TheRhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,Op.43, (Russian:Рапсодия на тему Паганини,Rapsodiya na temu Paganini) is aconcertantework written bySergei Rachmaninoffforpianoandorchestra,closely resembling apiano concerto,all in a singlemovement.Rachmaninoff wrote the work at his summer home, theVilla Senarin Switzerland, according to the score, from 3 July to 18 August 1934. Rachmaninoff himself, a noted performer of his own works, played the piano part at the piece's premiere on 7 November 1934, at theLyric Opera Housein Baltimore, Maryland, with thePhiladelphia OrchestraconductedbyLeopold Stokowski.
Rachmaninoff, Stokowski, and the Philadelphia Orchestra made the first recording, on 24 December 1934, atRCA Victor's Trinity Church Studio inCamden, New Jersey.The English premiere on 7 March 1935 at ManchesterFree Trade Hallalso featured Rachmaninoff withThe Halléconducted byNicolai Malko.The best-known variation in the piece is the 18th variation, frequently selected in isolation in classical music compilations.
Instrumentation
editThe piece is scored forpianoandorchestra:[1]
- Woodwinds:
- Brass:
- Percussion:
- Strings:
- 1stviolins
- 2nd violins
- violas
- cellos
- double basses
- concert harp
Structure
edit
The piece is a set of 24variationson thetwenty-fourth and lastofNiccolò Paganini'sCaprices for solo violin,which has inspiredworks by several composers.The whole composition takes about 22–24 minutes to perform. All variations are inA minorexcept where noted.
- Section 1:
- Introduction: Allegro vivace
- Variation 1: (Precedente)
- Theme: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 2: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 3: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 4: Più vivo
- Variation 5: Tempo precedente
- Variation 6: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 7: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
- Variation 8: Tempo I
- Variation 9: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 10: L'istesso tempo
- Section 2:
- Section 3:
- Variation 19: A tempo vivace
- Variation 20: Un poco più vivo
- Variation 21: Un poco più vivo
- Variation 22: Marziale. Un poco più vivo (Alla breve)
- Variation 23: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 24: A tempo un poco meno mosso (A minor →A major)
Although Rachmaninoff's work is performed in one stretch without breaks, it can be divided into three sections, as shown above. These correspond to the three movements of aconcerto:up to variation 10 corresponds to the first movement, variations 11 to 18 are the equivalent of a slow movement, and the remaining variations make a finale.[2]
Analysis
editAfter a brief introduction, the first variation is playedbeforethe theme.[3]Paganini's theme is stated on strings with the piano picking out salient notes,afterthe first variation. Rachmaninoff likely got the idea of having a variation before the theme from the finale ofBeethoven'sEroicasymphony.[4]Variations II to VI recombine elements of the theme. The pauses and rhetorical flourishes for the piano in variation VI herald a change of tempo and tone. The piano next gravely intones theDies irae(of which, to some degree, the Paganini theme is an inversion),[5]the "day of wrath"plainchantfrom the medievalMass of the Dead,while the orchestra accompanies with a slower version of the opening motif of the Paganini theme. The piece is one of several by Rachmaninoff to quote theDies Iraeplainchant melody.[6]
The slow 18th variation is by far the best known, and it is often included on classical music compilations without the rest of the work. It is based on aninversion of the melodyof Paganini's theme. In other words, the A minor Paganini theme is literally played "upside down" in D♭major, with a few other changes. Rachmaninoff himself recognized the appeal of this variation, saying "This one is for my agent."[4]
The 24th variation is more playful in tone than most of the other variations, ending with aglissandosweep of the keyboard, before quoting the original theme in the last bar.[7]Due to the speed and the large leaps on the piano, the 24th and last variation of the rhapsody presents considerable technical difficulty for the pianist. Shortly before the world première performance, Rachmaninoff – a sufferer of performance anxiety[8]– confessed trepidation over his ability to play it. Upon the suggestion of his friendBenno Moiseiwitsch,Rachmaninoff broke his usual rule against drinking alcohol and had a glass ofcrème de menthe,which he reputedly kept beneath the piano, to steady his nerves.[citation needed]His performance was a spectacular success, and prior to every subsequent performance of the Rhapsody, he drank crème de menthe. This led to Rachmaninoff nicknaming the twenty-fourth the "Crème de Menthe Variation".[9]
Balletic interpretations
editIn 1939,Michel Fokinewrote to Rachmaninoff from Auckland, New Zealand, where he was touring, seeking the composer's approval to useRhapsody on a Theme of Paganinifor his balletPaganini,which he had almost finishedchoreographing.Fokine wanted to make a minor change to the score, involving the reuse of 12 earlier measures as a more theatrically effective introduction to the 18th Variation, which he wanted to play in the key of A major, rather than D♭major. Rachmaninoff agreed to the extra measures, although he said A major would not work and asked that the 18th Variation be played in D major, to provide greater tension. He also wondered whyNiccolò Paganinihad been turned into aguitarplayer in Fokine's scenario, but did not object.[10]Paganiniwas premiered in 1939 byThe Royal Balletat theRoyal Opera HouseinCovent Garden,London.The ballet was a success, which pleased Rachmaninoff, and he wrote hisSymphonic Dancesin 1940 with Fokine in mind. He played the piano version for Fokine, but both died before the idea got any further.[11]
The Rhapsody has also been used for ballets byLeonid Lavrovsky(Bolshoi Ballet,Moscow, 1960),Frederick Ashton(Royal Ballet, London, 1980),[12]and Ivo van Zwieten.[13]
Selected recordings
edit| External audio | |
|---|---|
 PerformanceofRhapsody on a Theme of Paganiniplayed bySergei Rachmaninoffwith thePhiladelphia Orchestraconducted byLeopold Stokowskiin 1934 |
Popular culture
editThe 18th variation, by far the most popular, has been used in various movie and TV show soundtracks to different degrees. This includes:
- The Story of Three Loves(1953)
- Somewhere in Time(1980 film)
- Singapore Sling(1990 film)
- Dead Again(1991)
- Groundhog Day(1993 film)
- Ronin(1998 film)
- The Byron Janis Story(2010 TV movie documentary)
- The Walking Dead (TV series)(2010 TV show, Season 10 Episode 8)
- Nikolina and Tomislav(2013 short)
- Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory(2014 documentary)
- The Good Wife(2015)
Winifred Atwellrecording of the 18th variation as a theme fromThe Story of Three Lovesreached No. 9 on the UK chart.[25]
The pop song "If I Had You" byThe Korgisuses the melody fragment from the 18th variation.
The video gameGran Turismo 6uses it as the intro theme.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Steinberg 1998,p. 367.
- ^Serotsky, Paul."Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini notes".Retrieved21 January2007.
- ^Robert Cummings.Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniatAllMusic
- ^abSteinberg 1998,p. 367–370.
- ^Dotsey, Calvin (9 November 2017)."A Guide to Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini".Retrieved18 April2020.
- ^Pallaver, Vincent (February 2004)."Rachmaninoff and Dies Irae"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 July 2010.Retrieved18 December2008.
- ^"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43 (Rachmaninoff, Sergei) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download".
- ^"News".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-18.
- ^Rimm 2002,p.142.
- ^Bertensson & Leyda 1956.
- ^"DANCE - Is There a Ballet In Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances? - NYTimes.com".The New York Times.30 January 1994.Retrieved23 February2015.
- ^"Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov".Answers.com.Retrieved23 February2015.
- ^I Feel Slovenia
- ^"Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff – The 4 Piano Concertos, Etc".RCA Victor Red Deal.RetrievedSeptember 5,2011.
- ^"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), for piano & orchestra in A minor, Op. 43 – Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini".Rovi Corporation.RetrievedAugust 29,2011.
- ^"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), for piano & orchestra in A minor, Op. 43 – Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini".Rovi Corporation.RetrievedAugust 29,2011.
- ^"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (Remastered 1999)".Amazon.2000.
- ^"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), for piano & orchestra in A minor, Op. 43 – Franck: Symphonic Variations; Rachmaninov / Fleisher, Szell".Sony Classical.RetrievedSeptember 5,2011.
- ^"Classical Net Review – Seraphim Reissues".Classical Net Review.RetrievedJuly 7,2016.
- ^Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), for piano & orchestra in A minor, Op. 43 – Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2/Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniatAllMusic
- ^Symphonic Dances, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Aleko OvertureatAllMusic
- ^Van Cliburn in MoscowatAllMusic
- ^"Piano Concerto No.2;Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini/ Yuja Wang, Abbado, Mahler Chamber Orchestra ".www.cdandlp.com.Retrieved2024-06-13.
- ^Rachmaninov Variations / Daniil Trifonov, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Philadelphia OrchestraatAllMusic
- ^"Winifred Atwell".The Official Charts Company.
Sources
edit- Bertensson, Sergei;Leyda, Jay(1956).Sergei Rachmaninoff – A Lifetime in Music.New York: New York University Press.ISBN978-0-253-21421-8– viaInternet Archive.
- Rimm, Robert (2002).The Composer-Pianists: Hamelin and the Eight.Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press.ISBN1574670727.Retrieved18 March2013.
- Steinberg, Michael(1998).The Concerto: A Listener's Guide.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-510330-4– viaInternet Archive.
External links
edit- Rachmaninoff's Works for Piano and OrchestraAn analysis of Rachmaninoff's works for piano and orchestra, including the Piano Concertos and the Paganini Rhapsody
- The BBC'sDiscovering Music,which includes a link to a.ram (for theRealNetworksaudio player) file discussing the piece
- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
