About the piece
Rachmaninoff wrote it in 1892, just after graduating from the Moscow Conservatory, in the set Morceaux de fantaisie Op. 3. It was such a success that audiences demanded it as an encore for the rest of his life.
Everything grows from the three-note motto A–G-sharp–C-sharp played in octaves in the bass; in the ending the chords are written on four staves.
How to practise it
- The three-note motto: full, deep octaves, using the weight of the arm.
- Play the chords of the first section softly: the forte comes later.
- The middle section is fast and agitated: practise it separately, very slowly.
- In the ending every chord is big: relax your hands between chords.
Free sheet music
First page. Complete sheet music (PDF) on the Mutopia Project (CC BY-SA 4.0, edition by Petro Kostandy); in the Piano Learning app you read it two pages side by side while you play.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need big hands?
It helps, as some chords are wide; small hands can roll them slightly.
What level do I need?
Advanced, mainly for the middle section and the power of the ending.