Rachmaninov Musical Legacy
Sergei Rachmaninoff was born 1st April 1873 in Russia. He was born into a musical family, having started to play piano at the age of 4. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory and graduated in 1892, having already composed a number of works upon arrival to Moscow.
Throughout Rachmaninoffs life and even long after his passing he has been regarded as one of the best composers in music history. His romantic music full of passion, love, heartbreak and sorrow was one of his highlights in the 19th century.
A lot of his music, if you listened to it, was deepened by the sorrow and sadness, and that reflects on the composer himself. To listen to Rachmaninoffs music is soul deep, and only the biggest amount of emotions would be felt listening to his music, otherwise it would not be considered a Rachmaninoff work. After Symphony premiered in Moscow 1897, it had a major backlash and sent Rachmaninoff into a huge spiral of depression. So large that he needed hypnosis help, pretty much to live life. From going into depression and coming out the other end, this is where we see his most beautifully simple and heart wrenching music works, such as Vocalise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuBexGEe1S4.
His music seems to tenderly private, yet is felt the same emotions by everyone in the world. The Great War and the Bolshevik Revolution left Europe distraught, and Rachmaninoff along with other composers were never to return to Russia. After these events, composers began to find a new style, and this was called neo-romantic music, that was described as music that ‘painted pictures’. Even though the music was changing, Rachmaninoff stayed in his own path, and did what he knew would be great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts3Q4VIkLv0
Rachmaninoff took a hit during this new time in the late 19th century but continued to write his own music and took no note of the changing trends. He was described as ‘shallow’, ‘artificial’ and ‘limited’ but this also gave Rachmaninoff the huge platform to keep writing because he was under the eye of so many people. He hated and ignored these critics and gained so many fans because of this. His concerts were always sold out and tonnes of artists wanted to play his music, paying great amounts of money to do so.
He recorded an extent amount of his music and still to this day sell incredibly well. Rachmaninoff died in 1943 in Beverly Hills, California. He was widely respected as one of the best composers and also is one of the greatest composers. All he ever wanted was to be remembers by his own compositions and I think this dream of his has come true.
“If you have never listened to Rachmaninoff, then you are in for a feast for the ears and the soul, when you do. I actually envy those who hear the passion and genius of Sergei Vassilievitch Rachmaninoff for the first time”
. - Robert L. Jones, San Antonio, Texas, 31 January & 26 November 1998
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