Who is Rach?

[chopinguy]

Hi everyone,

Actually, this forum is the first place where I've ever heard of a composer named Rach in my whole life... who was he?  (Sorry if I'm somehow repeating a thread somewhere, if I am, just post a link to it)

[pies]

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[chopinguy]

Oh wow... how could I have missed that??? I feel like smacking myself, but thanks anyways! 

[pies]

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[SteinwayTony]

Midi of the Prelude, beautiful but overplayed: https://www.classical.net/music/audio/midi/rachmaninoff/preludecsharp.mid

The "It" piece!

[donjuan]

(Sorry if I'm somehow repeating a thread somewhere, if I am, just post a link to it)

haha, no worries! 

[noelle]

The Rach 2 was originally more popular than the Rach 3, and except when related to Shine, I still find it's more referenced. 
The third piano concerto has the reputation of being the most difficult piano concerto, and it's pretty high up there.  I haven't attempted it myself, but I've seen it played.

Rachmaninoff's birthday was April 1st ... April Fool's Day.  Neat fact.

[Motrax]

Rachmaninoff's 1st symphony failed miserably (in part due to Glazunov's terrible conducting) on March 28th, plunging him into a few years of depression. Coincidentally, this was the same date of his death.