Sergei Rachmaninoff
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Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff
Portrait of Rachmaninoff by Konstantin Somov, 1925.
Born April 1, 1873 (N.S.); March 20, 1873 (O.S.)
Semyonovo, Russia
Died March 28, 1943
Beverly Hills, California, USA
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (Russian: Сергей Васильевич
Рахманинов, Sergej Vasilevič Rahmaninov, April 1, 1873 (N.S.) or
March 20, 1873 (O.S.) March 28, 1943) was a Russian composer,
pianist, and conductor. ("Sergei Rachmaninoff" was the spelling the
composer himself used while living in the West throughout the
latter half of his life. However, alternative transliterations of
his name include Sergey or Serge, and Rachmaninov, Rachmaninow,
Rakhmaninov or Rakhmaninoff.)
He is regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth
century. [1] [2]. He had legendary technical facilities and
rhythmic drive, and his large hands were able to cover the interval
of a thirteenth on the keyboard (a hand span of approximately
twelve inches). His large handspan roughly corresponded with his
height; Rachmaninoff was 6 feet 6 inches (1.98m) tall according to
sources. He also had the ability to play complex compositions upon
first hearing. Many recordings were made by the Victor Talking
Machine Company recording label of Rachmaninoff's performing his
own music, as well as works from the standard repertory.
His reputation as a composer, on the other hand, has generated
controversy since his death. The 1954 edition of Grove's Dictionary
of Music and Musicians notoriously dismissed his music as
"monotonous in texture ... consist[ing] mainly of artificial and
gushing tunes ..." and predicted that his popular success was "not
likely to last". [3] To this, Harold C. Schoenberg, in his Lives of
the Great Composers, responded, "It is one of the most outrageously
snobbish and even stupid statements ever to be found in a work that
is supposed to be an objective reference." Indeed, not only have
Rachmaninoff's works become part of the standard repertory, but
their popularity among both musicians and audiences had, if
anything, increased during the second half of the twentieth
century, with some of his symphonies and other orchestral works,
songs and choral music recognized as masterpieces alongside the
more familiar piano works.
His compositions include, among others, four piano concerti, three
symphonies, two piano sonatas, three operas, a choral symphony (The
Bells, based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe), the All-Night Vigil
for unaccompanied choir (often known as Rachmaninoff's Vespers),
the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 24 Preludes (including the
famous Prelude in C-sharp minor), 17 Études-tableaux, Symphonic
Dances and many songs, of which the most famous is the wordless
Vocalise. Most of his pieces are in a melancholy, late Romantic
style akin to Tchaikovsky, although strong influences of Chopin and
Liszt are apparent. Further inspiration included the music of
Balakirev, Mussorgsky, Medtner (whom he considered the greatest
contemporary composer and who, according to Schoenberg's Lives,
returned the compliment by imitating him) and Henselt.