Sergey Rachmaninoff Prelude

Sergey Rachmaninoff
Prelude
in C-sharp Minor
Opus 3, no. 2
PS Instructive Edition
&
PS Urtext
pianostreet.com
2/12
Content:
2. About the piece
3. Practice tips
4. PS Instructive Edition
9. PS Urtext
About the Prelude in C-sharp Minor
Rachmaninoff composed the Prelude in C-sharp minor in
the late summer of 1892, at the age of 18, and first
performed it at the Moscow Electric Exhibition in
September of 1892. This was the beginning of the career
of one of the world’s most popular piano pieces - it shortly
became known simply as "The Prelude." Audiences would
clamor for it by shouting "C-sharp minor!" while
applauding other pieces, and even towards the end of
Rachmaninoff’s career it was reported that no recital of
his ever ended without this prelude as a final encore.
The immense popularity of this prelude perhaps even
made it harder for Rachmaninoff to reach out with his
later works, which were always viewed and understood in
terms of his early success and the Prelude’s status as a
near-popular song. Critics have often been quick to
highlight their own superiority by dismissing the C-sharp minor prelude as a shallow and mediocre work.
It is tempting to describe this piece in terms of paradox: it sounds sensationally virtuosic and looks very difficult to
play—both in terms of the score’s layout and in the gestures and movements required by the pianist—yet it by
no means belongs to the most difficult piano repertoire, and is often approached and mastered by advanced
amateur pianists. Its musical content is really simple and could perhaps even be called thin, but so far it hasn’t
lost any of its massive effect, and promises to live on and speak as powerfully to future generations.
The atmosphere of the first section may be likened to a solemn procession or ritual; in contrast, the chromatic
sequential phrases in the second section (measures 14-42) are almost frantic. When the first theme returns, it is in
“a mood of grandeur and power, as if illustrating the inevitable survival of some great and mighty truth”
(Godowsky), but the Coda returns to the mysterious and reflective atmosphere - as if the question posed at the
beginning is left unanswered after all.
The juxtaposed fortissimo and pianissimo passages suggest the tolling of bells and their echoes, and the piece
picked up its nickname, "The Bells of Moscow," quite early in its life.
As for its inspiration, Rachmaninoff once told an interviewer: “...one day the prelude simply came and I put it
down. It came with such force that I could not shake it off even though I tried to do so. It had to be - so there it
was”.
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
3/12
Preparatory exercises and practice tips
The first section (until M. 11):
The most effective way to learn the first section is to separate the music into its smaller elements which you
practice and then gradually put together.
Start with the chords but omit the middle voice and practice them as octaves, each hand separately. Then put
both hands together and establish a sense of two voice polyphony.
The next step is to add full chords in the right hand while maintaining octaves in the left. Then do the opposite;
play full chords in the left and octaves in the right. Practice each of the four models below a few times without
the bass. When mastered, repeat with the bass (grey notes) added. Learn each new bar in the first section this
way.
Example, bar 2:
Alternative fingering for the chords:
In measure 12, Rachmaninoff introduces slurs over the three-note motive C#-E-D# suggesting an expressive
phrasing as opposed to the more bell-like appearance of the motive earlier in this section. Some editions
suggest a slur over the three-note motive consequently from measure 2. If aiming for this fully legitimate
approach, a more suitable fingering is to use 4-5-4 in the RH top voice and 5-4-5 in LH bottom voice, assuming
your hands are big enough.
The Agitato-section (M. 14-35):
Practice the triplets grouped into chords. Then rhythmize, vary the articulation and combine the chords in
different ways. Finally practice the top voice of the triplets supported by a heavy arm and the two following
triplets with a light and quick touch.
You can also rhythmize the triplet-pattern (long-short-short) while maintaining a heavy top note. Below are
examples of a few of the ideas.
Example, bar 14:
Experiment and invent your own variations and use them throughout the whole agitato-section. Don’t forget to
also practice this whole section exactly as written in various tempos safely below your current upper limit but
with full musical expression. Most piano students need to practice this section extensively before being ready to
perform the piece. Luckily, it is fun to play!
The “martellato”-section (from beat 3 in M. 35 until M. 42):
First learn the chord progressions like crotchet-chords.
Also practice making each diminished chord
(the 1st and 3rd in the example) into an arpeggio starting
with the two notes in the left hand followed by the three in
the right hand.
The Tempo primo section (M. 45-52):
Use the same practice method as in the first section. Make sure you don’t sit too close to the piano. For
obtaining a full fortissimo sound you need plenty of space and free, heavy arms. Keep your body upright and
supportive but also supple, leaning to the sides to accommodate the big leaps.
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
4/12
{
PRELUDE
Opus 3, No 2
#### c > >
&
œ œ
{
3
2
3
2
ff
? #### c > >
œ œ
œ œ
° ø
3
2
˙
‰
˙
˙
>
w
w
ø
? #### ‰
˙
˙
ø
{
####
&
8
? ####
-œ n œœ n -œœ ‰
œœ nœ nœ
nœ
n œ.
ø
3
5
3
5
3
5
2
-œ ‰
œœ
J nœ
n œ.
ø
3
5
As a contrast, play these
three chords really cleanly,
with full pedal changes.
-j
-j - - œœ œœ nœœ #œœ ‰ nnœœ
œÓ œ œ œ n œ nœ
ppp
.
-œ -œ -œ ‹ -œ ‰ n# -œ
œœ œœ œœ ‹#œœ #n#œœ
J
nœ J
n œ.
Ó
ø ø ø ø ø
4
2
3
5
5
2
3
5
5
2
5
3
3
5
4
5
5
3
1
5
2
1
2
2
2
Using the second finger for the middle voice throughout is a simple solution
that both provides a good angle for the right hand and helps achieving a
suitable bell-like sound.
1
2
5
1
4
5
1
3
5
1
3
5
-œ ‹ -œ n# -œ
œ
œ
‰
‰
œœ ‰ œœ n œœ ‹#œœ #n#œœ
nœ J
œ J
˙
n œ.
œ.
˙
ø
ø
ø
-œ
œœ
J
‰
œ
œ.
ø
1
3
5
Smaller hands could use the fifth finger for the top voice
throughout, but still try to achieve the notated legato.
-- -- --œœ œ œj ‹œ-j œ œn##œ œ œ- œ œœ ‰ #œœ ‰ ‹œœ ‰ œœ œœ n##œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ œ
œ œ
w
.
.
5
2
5
2
-œ # œœ# -œœ
-œ
œœ ‰ œœ# œ # œ
J ˙
˙
ø
2
5
2
1
-œ ‹ -œ n# -œ
œœ ‹#œœ ‰ #n#œœ
nœ J
n œ.
ø
-œ
œœ
Piano Street Instructive Edition
- - - -j
-j
-j
œœ œ ‰ nœ ‰ #œ ‰ œ nœœ #œ ‰ nœ ‰ #œj
nnœœ
nnœœ
œœ œ ##œœ
œœ
œ
œ #œœ
#
nœ
nœ
œ
œ #œ
˙
.
.
.
.
5
3
1
ppp
Stay with your hands on this csharp octave and listen to the
sound dying away. Then move
your arms calmly in position for
the ppp chords. You've got
plenty of time!
- -- - 4
#### ‰ œ œœ œœ ‰ œj ‰ #œj ‰ œ
œœ
&
œœ œ œ n œ œœ #œœ
nœ
˙
. .
˙
2
œœ
œ
5
2
1
‰
>
w
As the music moves to
a higher register, leave
the ppp dynamic and
5
play with a slightly
2
fuller sound.
5
2
5
2
5
2
Sergey Rachmaninoff
Using both the second and third finger
here will give your hand the stability
needed for the ff -sound.
Lento
4
5
4
5
4
2
2
2
2
‰ # œœ
œ #œJ
œ.
ø
mf
-œ
-œ
œœ ‰ œœ
J w
w
ø
‰
œ
œ.
ø
3
5
3
5
5
2
3
5
4
2
5
3
5
2
5
3
-------œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ#œ
œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ# œœ
œJ ‰ Œ Ó
4
2
5
3
5
2
4
2
5
3
5
2
3
5
5
3
4
2
In his recordings, Rachmaninoff moves the tempo
forward quite a lot in these two measures.
-œ œœ n œœ
nœ
2
4
ø
3
5
-œ
œœ
2
4
-œ
œœ
4
5
ø
-œ
œœ
3
5
-œ
œœ
4
5
-œ
œœ
œ
œJ
3
5
ø
ø
-œ
œœ
-œ
œœ
4
5
3
5
-œ
œœ
‰ Œ
ø
4
5
Make the lowest g-sharp the loudest, and use half pedal
changes to keep the pedal point sounding through the
whole measure.
- - -j
œ œ
‰ #œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ
œ
œ #œ
˙
.
-œ n œœ n -œœ
-œ
‰ œ ‰ œœn œ nœ
œ
œ J
˙
œ.
˙
ø
ø
5
2
5
3
-j
-j
œ
‰ œ ‰ #œœ
œ #œ
œ
œ
.
.
-œ
‰ # œ ‰ -œ
œ
œ
œ J œ œJ
œ.
œ.
ø
ø
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
- - ‰ œœ nnœœ nœœ
œ nœ n œ
w
-œ -œ n -œ
‰ œœ œœ nœœ
w
w
ø
ø
4
2
3
5
5
3
2
4
5
2
3
5
-œ
œœ
Ó
ø
3
5
-œ
œœ
3
5
5
2
5
3
-œ
œœ
ø
2
4
-œ
œœ
4
5
- - - œœ œ œ œ
œ œœ œœ œœ
-œ - -œ œœ œœ œœ nœœ
œ nœ
5
3
2
4
ø
5
2
4
5
5
3
3
5
ø
4
2
2
5
5/12
{
#### -j
œœ
&
œ
œJ
-œ
? #### œœ
Jœ
œJ
5
3
11
{
5
3
5
3
1
3
5
1
2
4
- - œœ œœ œœ ‰
œ œ œ ‹œ
‰ Œ
.
-œ -œ n -œ ‰
œœ œœ nœœ
‹œ
‰ Œ ‹œ
.
ø ø ø ø
-j
-j ?
‰
œœ
œ
œ œ # œœ
.
-œ ‰ #-œ
œ # œœ
J œ J
œ.
ø
5
3
1
3
5
3
5
ø
Agitato
Note the added slurs in measures 12-13. Stay close
to the keys and play this passage extremely legato.
- œ œ n‰œ #n œœj ‰ œ-j ‰ œ
œ ‹œ n# œ œ #œœ
˙ œ
‰ œ
˙ œ
5
2
4
1
5
4
2
4
1
5
2
1
3
1
1
This fingering might seem a little
awkward at first, but is the only
one that will allow you to play this
passage with real finger legato.
ppp
‰ - - œ nœ #œ nœ
˙
nœ
˙
ø
ø ø
œ
œ
1_5
ø
2
1
3
4
&
Rachmaninoff in his recordings brings
out the left hand very markedly in this
measure, and makes a big ritardando.
‰ - -œ œ #œ nœ
˙
nœ
˙
ø
ø
œ
œ
1_5
- œ # œ n‰œ #n œœj ‰ œ-j
œ ‹œ n# œ œ #œœ
ø
Bring out the change from four-note to two note
slurring: use armweight on the first note of the slur
and play the second note lightly on the way up.
5
4
5
5
4
#### œ
&
œ #œ
œ
œ œ #œ œ nœ # œ œ
œ œ #œ œ nœ # œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ ‹ œ n# œ
œœ
œ
œ œ œ ‹ œ n# œ
œœ œ
14
1
? #### Œ
w
w
ø
ø
{
Alternative
pedalling:
3
#œ
2
ø
3
1
nœ
3
1
2
3
œ
w
ø
ø
œ
3
1
nœ
2
5
1
####
&
œ
20
5
? ####
3
1
#œ
1
1
2
Use half pedal here to keep
the low c sharp ringing.
ø
3
1
4
crescendo
œ
1
œ
2
ø
ø
2
1
œ
œ
3
ø
ø
œ
2
4
3
ø
ø
Consider using this pedalling to help bring the four-note motif forward and to emphasize the change to two-note slurring in measure 16.
œ œœj œ œ œ # œj œ œ œ œ #œ œ nœ
œ œ #œ œ nœ # œ œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ œ œ
‹œ
n# œ # œ œ œ œ
‹œ
n# œ
œœ
5
? ####
œ
ø
ø
{
3
1
5
4
4
5
4
Rachmaninoff makes a marked rallentando
here in all his recordings of the piece.
####
&
17
3
3
mf
5
4
4
5
4
3
5
4
5
4
5
mf
œ
w
ø
diminuendo
œ
ø
œ
2
4
#œ
1
œ
5
5
4
4
5
nœ
ø
2
3
œ
w
ø
œ
1
2
#œ
nœ
ø
œ
œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œnœ œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ
n
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ #œ œ #œ œ nœ œ œ
#œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ
4
5
4
5
5
5
4
5
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
œ
4
œ
ø
2
œ
3
œw
ø
1
5
œ
2
5
3
2
nœ œ
1
ø
4
1
3
2
# œœ
2
4
ø
5
4
5
1 2
2
1
1
1
crescendo
œ
ø
4
œœ nœ
œ
2
4
ø
œœ
4
5
4
œœ œ
#œ
œœ
2
œœ
2
4
ø
2
4
ø
The continued twice-in-a-bar pedalling here might seem a bit schematic, but works very well, at least when the passage is played at the intended speed.
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
6/12
{
Make sure you reach a low point
here before the outburst in m. 27.
Play lightly with no harsh or heavy
accents and consider using a little
less pedal in this measure.
3
3
5
5
Don't force the sound here. Play the left hand
c-sharp really powerfully but for the rest, keep
a light touch and make speed the top priority.
> - >
>
>
>
####
œ
œ nœ
& œ œ œ nœ œ #œnœ nœ œ #œ #œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œ œ œ œ ‹œ œ n#œ#œ œœ œ
#œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ
ff - diminuendo
crescendo
œ
#
œ
n
œ
œ
? #### œœ nœœ œ
œœ Œ nœ Œ #œ Œ œ œ œ
#œ
˙.
˙
‹˙
w
>
>
ø
ø ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
24
{
5
4
5
4
3
5
5
5
1
1
2
4
2
4
1
1
2
1
2
5
1
3_5
4
5
2
The early pedal will stop the large left hand
leap from disrupting the flow, and ensures a
full sound at the beginning of the measure.
> - > - - #### œ œ#œ œ nœ #œ œ œ œ#œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœj œ œœ #œœj œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ #œœ
&
œ ‹œ n#œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ ‹œ n#œ œœ
28
- - œ
#œ nœ
? ####
w
ø
{
####
&
32
? ####
{
####
&
w
œ
ø
4
œ
œ œ œ
ø
3
5
- - œ #œ nœ
diminuendo
œ œ
ø
1
4
ø
4
œ
w
ø
1
œ
3
>
>
>
œ œ œ œnœ œ œ œ œ
œ
œ #œ
œ
œ œ #œ œ nœ #œ œ
#œ
œ œœ
œ œ œ nœ
œ
œ
œ
œ
‹œ n#œ
œ
œ
crescendo
>
w
>
œ #œ
nœ
œ
œ
œ
œ & œ
œœ
œ
œœ
œœ
#œ
w
ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
5
5
3
2
3
2
#### #>œœ
&
4
3
5
3
1
2
nœœ
fff
4
2
1
œœ œœ œœ
>
>œœ
œ
3
5
3
1
2
2
4
2
4
3
>
>
œ
œ # œn œ œ # œœ œœœ œœœ3
œ
œ
4
4
3
Consider using the
fourth finger - the extra
leap needed for this 5
4
fingering will add
energy and power.
35
œ
Despite the fff, refrain from making loudness and power the main objective here. You
haven't reached the real climax of the piece yet! Aim for lightning speed, and play
the chords quite crisply, while using a lot of pedal.
œœ œœ n>œ
œ œ n#œœ
4
2
1
#œœ >œœ œœ
œœ œœ >œ
œ œ nœœ
4
2
1
5
3
1
nœœ œœ œœ
>
œœ œœ >œœ
œ œ #œ
5
3
1
4
2
1
œœ nœœ
œ œ
5
3
1
4
2
1
?
#œœ >œœ œœ #œœ n>œœ œœ
ø
ø
ø
38
#####>œœ œœ œœ n n>œœ œœ œ >œ œ
œ œ œ #œ œ œœ œ œ œœ >œœ œœ n œœ >œ œ œ >œœ œœ œœ
&
nœ œ œ # œ œ œ # œœ œœ œ # œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ n œ œœ œœ
œ >
? #### # œ >
#œœ >œœ œœ #œœ n >œœ œœ #œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
>
>
ø
ø
{
2
4
2
4
Alternative
fingering:
1
3
1
3
1
2
4
2
1
3
3
5
1
3
4
2
1
3
1
3
1
2
2
4
1
3
2
4
1
3
3
5
This is one obvious place where pedalling will have to be adjusted to instrument, acoustics and your particular style of playing. Still, it is advisable to keep
the pedal down for long streches while in the higher regions of the keyboard, and to change more often as the music moves down to a lower register.
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
{
>
˙˙
˙
7/12
####
>œ
&
œœ
41
œœ œœ >œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ
œœ œœ >œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ
>œ
œœ
Ów
w
sfff
? #### œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ
#œ
œ
#œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ Ów
>
>
>
>
w
ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
{
Tempo primo
>œ n>œœ #>œœ #n>œœ #>œ
#### ‰ œœœ œœ ‹ œœ ‰ n# nœœ ‰##œœœ
&
J
J
m.d. fff pesante
>
>
#### >
nœ
&
œ
˙˙
nœ
œ
˙˙
>œœ >œœ ‹>œœ nn#>œœ #>œ
? #### ‰ œœ œœ ‹#œœ ‰ # n#œœ ‰##œœœ
J
J
m.g.
fff pesante >
>
? #### >
nœ
œ
˙˙
nœ
œ
˙˙
ø
ø
ø
>œ n>œœ ##>œœ #n>œœ #>œ
œ œ ‹œ n# œ
‰ œœ œ œ ‰ nœJ ‰##œœœ
J
sffff
>
>
>
nœ
œ
˙˙
nœ
œ
˙˙
>œœ >œœ ‹>œœ nn#>œœ #>œ
n œ #œ # œ # œ
‰ œœ œ ‹ œ ‰ n#œJ ‰ #œœ
J
sffff
>
>
>
nœ
œ
˙˙
nœ
œ
˙˙
ø
ø
ø
####
&
‰
{
48
####
&
{
####
&
? ####
Ó
w
w
ff
˙
˙˙
sfff
Ó
w
w
ø
ff
˙
# ˙˙˙
Despite the 'Tempo primo' marking, the rhythmic approach should be quite different here than in the first bars. The floating,
mysterious feel of the beginning is best served by a more relaxed approach, while this final outburst must have great forward drive.
45
{
>
˙
#˙˙
>
>œ
>œ œœ >œœ
œœœ œ œ # œœœ
‰
‰ J
>
>
œ
œ
˙˙
˙˙
> > >
>j
#
œ
‰ œ œ œœ ‰ #œœ
œœ #œœ œœ # œœ
œ
>
>
œ
œ
˙˙
˙˙
ø
ø
‹>œœ
œ
‰ ‹œJ
>
œ
œ
>œ
œœœ
n>œœ #>œ
n œœ #œœœ
>œ
œœœ
>œ
œœœ
>œ
œœœ
>
>œ œœ #>œœ n >œœ #>œœ
œ œ œ œœ
‰ J ‰ œœJ
‰ œœ
>
nœ
nœ
>
˙˙
˙˙
>
>œœ n œœœ n>œœœ œ>œ
n œ nœ
‰ œœJ
‰ œœ
>
>
nœ
nœ
˙˙
˙˙
ø
ø
>œ >œœ >œœ >œœ >œ >œœ >œ
œœœ œœ œœ œœ œœœ œœ œœ
œ
j
œœ
œœ
> > > > > > > >
>j
‰ ‹œœ ‰ œœ nœœœ #œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ
œœ œ n œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ
œ #œ œ
>
sffff
j
œ
w
œ
œ
w
œœœ
w
w
ø
ø
sffff
w
w
w
w
No half pedalling needed, since every new chord
is so massive that it takes over from the preceding
one without any disturbing blurring effects.
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
‰ Œ
>
œ
œ
>œœ
‰ œœJ &
>
œ
œ
ø
>œ >
œœœ # œœ
#œœ
Ó
>
œœ
œœ
‰
>
œœ
œœ
Œ
>
œœ
œœ
>
œœ
œœ
Ó
>
œœ
œœ
> >?
œœ œ
œœ # œœ
œ
ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
ø
Half pedal changes from here, to make
the texture slightly more transparent.
Alternative
pedalling:
ø
8/12
{
>œ
#### œœœ
&
51
#### >
&
˙
˙
>œœ
? #### œœ
{
>
n œœœ ‹#>œœœ n##n>œœœ #>œœ
œ œ ‰ nœ ‰##œœ
J
J
>
>
nœ
œ
nœ
œ
>œœ ‹>œ
>
n œœ ‹#œœœ #nn#n#œœœœ ##>œœœ
‰ J ‰ #œ
J
>
>
nœ
œ
nœ
œ
ø
ø
ø
>œ
œœ
œ
>œœ
œœ
? #### >
˙
˙
ø
Consider making the full pedal
change on the last eighth-note of
the previous measure instead. This
sounds surprisingly well and helps
avoiding a break in the big sound
here.
{
- - - - #### -j œ
j
œœ œœ œ œœ ‰ œœ ‰ œœj
&
œœ œ œ œ œ
diminuendo
#### Ó
- &
‹œ œ
-œ -œ -œ n -œ -œ #-œ
? #### œœ œœ œœ nœœ ‰ œ ‰# œœ
J J
J
5
3
54
{
2
4
? #### Ó
ø
5
3
5
3
3
5
5
3
3
5
diminuendo
‹œ
‹œ
ø ø ø
œ
œ
ø
>
>œ œœ #>œœ #>œœ
>œ
œœ œ œ œœ
‰ J ‰ #œœœ
‰ œ
J
>
>
>
œ
œ
˙˙
œ
œ
˙˙
>
>œœ n œœœ n>œœœ œ>œ
>œœ
n
œ
#
œ
n
œ
‰ œJ ‰ œœ
‰ œœ
J
>
>
>
œ
œ
˙˙
œ
œ
˙˙
ø
ø
ø
>œ
œœ
œ
J
- - œœ nœœ nœ
œ nœ n œœ
4
2
5
3
5
2
diminuendo
˙
˙
>œ
œœ
œ
J
-œ
œœ
3
5
-œ
œœ
2
4
n -œ
nœœ
3
5
diminuendo
˙
˙
ø
œœ
œ
5
3
j
œ
œ
-œ
œœ
2
4
œœ
œ
œœ
œ
œœ
œ
-œ
œœ
-œ
œœ
n-œœ
nœ
5
2
5
3
‰ Œ
4
5
3
5
4
2
j ‰ Œ
œ
œ
ø ø ø
Don't make too much of the diminuendo in measures 53-54. The mf chords from measure 55
should still sound full and heavy. Save the real tapering off until the last three measures or so.
Listen to the inner voices, which give each chord its harmonic direction and color.
Œ ˙˙..
˙.
Œ ˙˙..
˙.
Œ n˙˙..
˙.
Œ #˙˙˙...
˙.
Œ n˙˙˙...
˙.
Ó
w
w
w
w
w
w
5
3
mf
-˙.
˙.
Œ ˙.
1
3
5
w
w
ø
mf
5
2
-˙.
.
#
Œ ˙˙.
1
2
5
w
w
ø
5
3
-˙.
Œ n˙˙..
1
4
5
w
w
ø
5
4
2
-˙.
.
#
Œ ˙˙˙..
w
w
ø
1
2
4
5
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
5
3
2
-˙.
.
n
Œ ˙˙˙..
w
w
ø
1
2
4
5
Ó
w
w
ø
2
5
œœ..
œœ..
œœœ
œJ
U
w
w
w
w
ppp
U
œœœ..
œ..
œœ
œœ
J
w
U
w
w
w
w
ppp
U
w
w
9/12
PRELUDE
{
Opus 3, No 2
Lento
#### c > >
&
œ œ
{
? #### c > >
œ œ
œ œ
-œœ œ ‰
œ œœ
nœ
.
-œ n œœ n -œœ ‰
? #### ‰ œœ nœ nœ nœ
n œ.
˙
˙
{
#### œj
&
œœ
Ó
8
-œ
? #### œœ
J
Ó
{
>
w
w
-j -j
œœ ‰ #œ
œ n œ#œœ
.
-œ ‰ -œ
œœ œœ
J nœ J
n œ.
- - -j
œ
œœ nœ #œœ ‰ nnœœ
œ œ œ n œ nœ
.
ppp
-œ -œ ‹ -œ ‰ n# -œ
œœ œœ ‹#œœ #n#œœ
nœ J
n œ.
#### -j
œœ
&
œ
œJ
-œ
? #### œœ
Jœ
œJ
11
>
w
ff
#### ‰ œ
&
œœ
˙
4
- - -j
œ
‰ œœ œœ #œœ ‰ nnœœ
œ n œ nœ
œ
˙ ppp
.
-œ -œ ‹ -œ ‰ n# -œ
‰ œœ œœ ‹#œœ #n#œœ
nœ J
˙
n œ.
˙
- - œœ œœ œœ ‰
œ œ œ ‹œ
‰ Œ
.
-œ -œ n -œ ‰
œœ œœ nœœ
‹œ
‰ Œ ‹œ
.
Sergey Rachmaninoff
- - -j
-j
œ
‰ #œœ ‰ œœ nœœ ##œœ ‰ nnœœ
œ #œ n œ nœ
œ #œ
˙
.
-œ ‹ -œ . n# -œ
‰ œ ‰ œœ n œœ ‹#œœ ‰ #n#œœ
œœ
œ
nœ J
œ J
˙
n œ.
œ.
˙
-- - œœ œ œj ‹œj
œ œœ ‰ #œœ ‰ ‹œœ
œ œ
.
.
-œ # œœ# -œœ ‰ # -œ ‰ -œ
‰ œœ #œ # œ #œœ œœ
œ J œJ
œ. œ.
˙
˙
-- ----œ
‰ œœœ œœn#œœ œœœ œœ œœ œœ
n#œ œ œ œ
w
mf
-œ -œ n -œ -œ - -œ ‰ œœ œœ nœœ œœ œœœ œœ œœ
œ
w
w
- - -j
œ œ
‰ #œœ ‰ œœ œœ œœ
œ
œ #œ
˙
.
-œ n œœ n -œœ
-œ
‰ œ ‰ œœn œ nœ
œ
œ J
˙
œ.
˙
-j
-j
œ
‰ œ ‰ #œœ
œ #œ
œ
œ
.
.
‰ # œœ ‰ -œ
œ
œ
œ J œ œJ
œ.
œ.
‰ œœ
œ
˙
-j
‰ #œœ
œ #œ
.
‰ -œ
œœ
œ J
œ.
Piano Street Urtext
-------œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ#œ
œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ# œœ
œJ ‰ Œ Ó
-œ
œœ
œ
œJ
-œ
œœ
‰
- - ‰ œœ nnœœ nœœ
œ nœ n œ
w
-œ -œ n -œ
‰ œœ œœ nœœ
w
w
-œ
œœ
Œ
-œ
œœ
-œ
œœ
Ó
-œ
œœ
-œ
œœ
- - - œœ œ œ œ
œ œœ œœ œœ
-œ
œœ
-œ
œœ
-œ
œœ
n-œœ
nœ
- - - - -j
-j
-j
-j
œ
œ
‰
‰
‰
‰
œ
n
œ
#
œ
n
œ
‰ œ œ ‹œ nœ n## œœ œ œœ ‰ œ œ ‹œ nœ n## œœ œ œœ
#œ ˙ œ
#œ
˙ œ
-j
-j ?
‰
œœ
œœ
#
œ œ œ
.
-œ ‰ #-œ ppp
œ # œœ ‰ - n-œ J œ J
œ #œ nœ
˙
nœ
œ.
˙
œ
œ
‰ - -œ œ #œ nœ
˙
nœ
˙
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
-œ
œœ
œ
œ
&
{
10/12
Agitato
#### œ
&
œ #œ
œ
œ œ #œ œ nœ # œ œ
œ œ #œ œ nœ # œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ ‹ œ n# œ
œœ
œ
œ œ œ ‹ œ n# œ
œœ œ
14
3
mf
? #### Œ
w
w
{
####
&
17
{
####
&
œ
20
{
#œ
nœ
3
3
3
œ
w
3
œ
#œ
nœ
3
3
3
3
œ
crescendo
œ
3
3
œ
œ
œ
3
œ œœj œ œ œ 3 œj œ œ œ œ #œ œ nœ
œ œ #œ œ nœ # œ œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ #œ œ
‹œ
n# œ # œ œ œ œ
‹œ
n# œ
œœ
? ####
œ
? ####
3
3
3
3
diminuendo
œ
œ
3
3
3
œ
w
#œ
mf
œ
nœ
3
3
3
œ
w
3
œ
#œ
nœ
3
3
œ
œ œ œ œnœ œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œœnœ œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ
#œ
#œ œ #œ œ nœ œ œ
nœ œ œ
œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
œ
3
3
œ
œ
œ
œ
3
3
3
œ
œ
w
œ
3
crescendo
œœ nœ
œ
# œœ
nœ œ
œœ
3
œœ œ
#œ
œœ
œœ
> - >
>
>
>
####
œ
œ
n
œ
& œ œ œ nœ œ #œnœ nœ œ #œ #œ œ œ œ œ#œ œ œ œ œ œ ‹œ œ n#œ#œ œœ œ
#œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ 3
24
3
3
3
3
diminuendo
? #### œœ nœœ œ
#œ
{
3
3
3
3
crescendo
Œ nœ Œ
˙
‹˙
>
>
œœ
#œ
3
3
Œ œ
˙.
3
œ
3
œ
3
- - œ #œ nœ
ff
3
w
3
œ
> - > - - #### œ œ#œ œ nœ #œ œ œ œ#œ œ œ œœ œ œ 3 œœj œ œœ 3#œœj œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ #œœ
&
œ ‹œ n#œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ ‹œ n#œ œœ
28
3
3
- - ? #### œ #œ nœ
w
3
3
œ
3
w
œ
3
3
3
œ œ œ
3
3
3
3
diminuendo
œ
œ œ
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
œ
3
3
3
- - œ #œ nœ
w
3
œ
{
11/12
>
>
>
n
œ
œ œœ œ
œœœœ
œ
œ #œ
œ
#### œ œ #œ œ nœ #œ œ
#
œ
n
œ
œ œœ
œ œœ
œ
&
œ
‹œ n#œ
œ
œœ œ
3
32
3
-3
-3 - 3
nœ
œ
? #### œ #œ
w
>
œ # œ n œ œ #>œœœ œœœ œœœ
35
œ
#### œ
&
3
3
3
{
#### #>œœ
&
{
####
&
38
>œ
œœ
? ####
{
nœœ
####
>œ
&
œœ
fff
3
œœ œœ œœ
>
œœ œœ n>œ œ œ
œ œ n#œœ œœ œœ
3
3
3œ
œ
œ
# œ >œ œ n œœ œœ 3 œœ
>
41
3
œœ œœ >œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ
3
? #### œ œœ 3 œœ œ œœ 3 œœ
#œ
œ
>
>
{
>œ n>œœ #>œœ #n>œœ #>œ
#### ‰ œœœ œœ ‹ œœ ‰ n# nœœ ‰##œœœ
&
J
J
m.d. fff pesante
>
>
#### >
nœ
&
œ
˙˙
n
œ
œ
˙˙
>œœ >œœ ‹>œœ nn#>œœ #>œ
? #### ‰ œœ œœ ‹#œœ ‰ # n#œœ ‰##œœœ
J
J
Tempo primo
45
{
m.g.
? #### >
˙˙
˙˙
fff pesante
>
nœ
nœ
>
œ
œ
3
3
w
œ
œ
œ
>œœ
œ
>
œ & œ
#œ
œœ œœ n>œ
œ œ n#œœ
3
#œœ >œœ œœ
>œ
nœœ
>œ
œœ
3
œœ œœ >œœ
œ œ #œ
3
Ów
w
>
˙˙
˙˙
sffff
3
>
nœ
nœ
œœ nœœ
œ œ
3
>
œ
œ
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
>
˙˙
˙˙
3
>œ œ
œœ œœ # œœ œœ œœœ
œ œ
3
3
3
œœ 3 œœ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
#œ œ œ
>
>
sfff
#œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ Ów
>
>
w
>œ n>œœ ##>œœ #n>œœ #>œ
œ œ ‹œ n# œ
‰ œœ œ œ ‰ nœJ ‰##œœœ ‰
J
sffff
>
>
>
>
nœ
œ
˙˙
˙˙
n
œ
œ
˙˙
˙˙
>œœ >œœ ‹>œœ nn#>œœ #>œ
n œ #œ # œ # œ
‰ œœ œ ‹ œ ‰ n#œJ ‰ #œœ ‰
J
3
œœ
?
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
#œ >
#œ n >œ œ
3
œ
œ
#œ n >œ œœ
3
>
œœ
3
œœ œœ >œœ
œ œ #œ
3
œœ n œœ >œ
œ œ # œœ
œœ œœ >œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ
3
œœ
3
3
n œœ œœ œœ
>
3
œ
œ
œ
#œ > œœ
3
crescendo
œœ œœ >œ
œ œ nœœ
3
3
3
3
3
>
˙˙
˙
ff
˙˙
˙
Ów
w
sfff
Ó
w
w
>
˙
#˙˙
# ˙˙˙˙
ff
>
>œ œœ #>œœ n >œœ #>œœ
œœœ œ œ œœ
‰ J ‰ œœJ
>
nœ
nœ
>
œ
œ
>
nœ
nœ
>
œ
œ
>
>œœ
>œœ n œœœ n>œœœ œ>œ
œœn œ nœ ‰ œœ ‰ œœ
J
J&
{
12/12
>œ >œ
>
>
œœ œœ œœ # œœœ ‹>œœœ
48
œ
‹œ
#### œœ
‰
J
‰
‰
J
&
#### >
&
˙˙
˙˙
> > >
#### ‰ #œ œ
&
œœ #œœœ œœœ
œœ
? #### >
˙˙
˙˙
>œ >œ n>œœ #>œœ
51
#### œœœ œœœ œœ ‹ œœ
&
{
{
#### >
&
˙
˙
>œœ
? #### œœ
{
? #### >
˙
˙
{
>œœ
œœ
>œœ ‹>œ
n œœ ‹#œœœ
>
œ
œ
>
œ
œ
>
nœ
nœ
>œ
œœ
œ
>œ
œœ
œ
>œ
œœ
œ
>œ >œœ >œœ >œœ >œ >œœ >œ
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ
œ
œ
>œ >
œœ # œœ
œ #œœ
sffff
w
w
w
w
>
œ
œ
- - - - #### -j œ
j
œœ œœ œ œœ ‰ œœ ‰ œœj
&
œœ œ œ œ œ
diminuendo
#### Ó
- &
‹œ œ
-œ -œ -œ n -œ -œ #-œ
? #### œœ œœ œœ nœœ ‰ œ ‰# œœ
J J
J
{
n>œœ #>œ
n œœ #œœœ
j
Ó
œœ ‰ Œ
œœ
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>j
>j
?
‰ #œœ ‰ ‹œœ ‰ œœ nœœœ #œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œœ œ n œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œœ # œœ
œœ
# œœ
œ #œ œ œ
œ œ œœ œ œœ
>
>
sffff
œ
j ‰ Œ
œ
Ó
w
œ
œ
œ
w
œœœ
w
w
>œ #>œ
>œ
>
>
n
œ
>
>œ >œœ - - - - - - œ
œ
œ
#
œ
#
œ
#
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
n#
œ
œ
‰ œJ ‰ #œœœ œœ œœ nœœ nœœ œœ œ œœ œ
‰ nœJ ‰##œœ ‰ œœ
J
J J œ nœ n œ œ œœ œ œ
œ
diminuendo
>
>
>
>
>
nœ
œ
j ‰ Œ
œ
œ
˙
˙
œ
nœ
œ
œ
œ
˙˙˙
˙
œ
>
>œœ
>œœ n œœœ n>œœœ œ>œ
n#
>
>œœ >œœ -œ -œ n -œ -œ -œ -œ n
#
œ
n
œ
# n#œœ # œœ
#
œ
nœ ‰ œ
œœ œœ œœ œœ nœœ œœ œœ œœ nœœ
‰ J ‰ #œ ‰ œœ
‰
nœ
J
J
J J
54
? #### Ó
‰
>œ
œœ
œ
Œ ˙˙..
˙.
mf
w
-˙.
˙.
Œ ˙.
>
œ
œ
diminuendo
˙
˙
Œ ˙˙..
˙.
Œ n˙˙..
˙.
Œ #˙˙˙...
˙.
Œ n˙˙˙...
˙.
Ó
w
w
w
w
w
-˙.
.
#
Œ ˙˙.
-˙.
Œ n˙˙..
-˙.
.
#
Œ ˙˙˙..
-˙.
.
n
Œ ˙˙˙..
Ó
mf
diminuendo
- ‹œ œ
‹œ œ
>
˙˙
˙˙
>
œ
œ
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
Copyright © 2014 Op 111 Productions | www.pianostreet.com
w
w
w
w
j ‰ Œ
œ
œ
œœ..
œœ..
œœœ..
œ..
œœœ
œJ
œœ
œœ
J
U
w
w
w
w
ppp
U
w
U
w
w
w
w
ppp
U
w
w
Take Your Piano Playing to the Next Level
with a Piano Street Gold Membership.
When you are learning to play the piano, your
ultimate goal - fluent and artistic playing of
the music you love - can feel far away and at
times almost unattainable. You get valuable
help and feedback from your teacher once or
twice a week; however, lessons are limited in
time and number, and because of the
complexity involved in playing piano well, it is
easy to get stuck once you are left on your
own. You may not have a sufficiently clear
idea of how the piece you are studying should
sound, or you don’t know how to deal with a
certain technical difficulty.
piece has
been
interpreted by
great pianists,
through
recordings carefully selected by the Piano
Street team. This is complemented with our
own recordings of many easy and
intermediate pieces, often difficult to find
elsewhere. In the Forum and Audition Room,
other members will share their experiences
and give you feedback on your recorded
performances.
Perhaps you even begin to doubt if you will
ever be able to fully realize your dream - how
would you, when your progress is so slow and
when you struggle with every detail when your
teacher is not there? Could it be the case that
your uncertainty is making you practice the
wrong way? How can you be sure that you
are moving in the right direction?
Studying or memorizing music away from the
piano will also help you reach your goals more
quickly. With Piano Street, there is no need to
carry around heavy books or piles of paper the Mobile Sheet Music Library gives you easy,
instant access to all pieces in your mobile
device. Gold members also have access to
technical advice and remarks on
interpretation on many of the most popular
pieces, as well as e-books on technique and
piano practice. Piano Street’s sheet music
editions are reliable and in high quality PDF
format, and are often found in several
versions, to fit different needs: Urtext editions,
student editions, composers’ manuscripts etc.
Piano Street dispels these doubts with a
number of useful services for pianists and
piano students, available whenever you need
them. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Piano
Street will provide the help, inspiration and
confidence you need to keep moving quickly
towards your piano playing goals.
As a Gold member of Piano Street, you will not
only have access to a vast piano sheet music
library, but you will also be provided with
various tools designed to help you make the
most of it.
For example, to listen to a brilliant
performance of a work while following along
in the score is often the best way to feed your
inspiration. Our unique Audio-Visual Study Tool
(AST) takes this a step further: it makes
revolutionary use of services like YouTube,
Spotify and Naxos Music Library, enabling you
to easily study and compare how your current
In short, with Piano Street you will have
complete and constant access to all the
resources of a modern, serious and global
piano community, helping you to a quicker,
easier and more rewarding learning process.
The Piano Street Team consists of professional
pianists with a genuine desire to promote
classical piano music and to support piano
students and teachers in their work towards
musical excellence. With thousands of
satisfied Gold members all over the world, we
feel confident that our service will meet your
needs and give extraordinary value for
money.
Try out a Gold membership for only $1!
Login to your account and visit this special hidden page:
http://www.pianostreet.com/special7592