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Which should I play?

Rach 2 1st Movement
Rach 2 3rd Movement
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Rach 3 1st Movement
Rach 1 1st Movement
Other (please specify below)

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Topic: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?  (Read 1838 times)

Offline jlskiles

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Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
on: November 08, 2014, 06:09:50 PM
Next year I be using a Rachmaninoff Concerto for several competitions and I will be performing it with my school's orchestra, but I'm torn over which one I should play. PLEASE HELP.
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Offline pianoman1349

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #1 on: November 10, 2014, 02:04:32 AM
Just a warning ... the orchestra part of the Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini is very difficult for all of the orchestral instruments.  You may want to consider that in your choice.

The third movement of Rach 2 is fun to play, and it has the big tune at the end of the concerto as well.
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Offline jlskiles

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #2 on: November 10, 2014, 02:19:38 AM
Quote from: pianoman1349 on November 10, 2014, 02:04:32 AM
Just a warning ... the orchestra part of the Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini is very difficult for all of the orchestral instruments.

Yeah I was wondering about that when my teacher suggested it. I'll have to ask the orchestra director about that.
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Offline piano4567

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #3 on: November 10, 2014, 11:50:39 AM
All of the Rach 2nd but if it were me, I'd personally pick either the first or third movement if I had to choose.
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Offline jlskiles

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #4 on: November 10, 2014, 02:06:07 PM
Quote from: piano4567 on November 10, 2014, 11:50:39 AM
All of the Rach 2nd but if it were me, I'd personally pick either the first or third movement if I had to choose.

I love Rach 2 but I'm only allowed to use one movement for the competition. I really like the first movement but the ending of the third movement to too great to not play.
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Offline symphonicdance

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #5 on: November 12, 2014, 04:15:48 PM
OP never thought of Rach 4?
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Offline jlskiles

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #6 on: November 12, 2014, 11:55:03 PM
Quote from: symphonicdance on November 12, 2014, 04:15:48 PM
OP never thought of Rach 4?

My school wants to do one that's more popular
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Offline nyiregyhazi

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #7 on: November 13, 2014, 01:25:09 AM
The first is an excellent piece and has the greatest cadenza there is in Romantic concertos.
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Offline jlskiles

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Re: Which Rachmaninoff Concerto should I play?
Reply #8 on: November 13, 2014, 02:20:07 AM
I would argue that the third has the greatest cadenza... but then again its way harder
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