Rachmaninov - 24 Preludes [Ashkenazy]This is the second time that these discs appear in my Blog [19th October 2010], they certainly expand on the Chopin set, which lasts roughly 40 minutes, Rachmaninov's set lasts roughly double that, and it shows in the deeper compositions that they are, like 'little symphonies' in a way, teeming with ideas, i listened to these pieces on random play, never knowing which one was coming next, i like it that way.
Vladimir Ashkenazy is Russian, now 74 years old, he recorded these pieces in 1975, the front cover shows Rachmaninov himself, in front of a giant Redwood tree i take it, his suit betrays the age of the photo, it's a monotone black and white, but coloured brown, a nice pic, and the lettering is nicely done.
This was an enlightening experience listening to these pieces again, this time i liked Preludes 5, 16 & 21, they're the more slower and inward looking Preludes, they breathe of things ancient, here's a short synopsis of each of them,
Prelude 5 Op23/4, the Prelude that on this listen i liked the best out of the 24, a beautiful gentle tune, at first simple an innocent, but it's depth is soon revealed, when the tune is restated, it has this wonderful treble accompaniment [1:20+], it's gorgeous, it adds layers to the piece, and still it morphs into deeper depths, there's a sense of the sad minor in its middle section [2:38+], and then later some really delicious high treble notes, very sparse, but like bells chiming out here and there [3:31+], what a creation from Rachmaninov, i was really moved by this.
Prelude 16 Op32/5, probably my favourite Prelude, i remember hearing Maura Lympany playing it on the radio, and i was stunned at its beauty, it's a heavenly creation, so full of innocence, and those rippling notes! [0:33+ & 1:10], the second burst is heart wrenching, damn that Rachmaninov, he really knows how to pull at your heartstrings, when the main tune comes back again, it's without those rippling trills, so enjoy those earlier ones all the more, just wow!.
Prelude 21 Op32/10, this one sounds like a piano version of his Vespers, old as the ages, it seeps of something eons ago, and yet timeless, in the Minor mode [B Minor], it's actually the longest Prelude of the 24, it's not really beautiful like the other two Preludes, but it has a depth to it, fairly sour i guess, and an angry middle section [1:52+], there's a tense frustration, and a constant hammering out of chords that grows and grows, really impressive, and just over halfway stuttering jagged rhythms [3:14+], and then quicksilver runs all over the place [3:43+], the melancholy opening returns, but right at the end there's a sort of coda [5:17+], which brings a sort of brighter hope, but the last notes are in the bass, a tremendously varied piece, and well worth deeply concentrating on, it was a joy to get to know this Prelude more today.
Prelude 5 Op23/4, the Prelude that on this listen i liked the best out of the 24, a beautiful gentle tune, at first simple an innocent, but it's depth is soon revealed, when the tune is restated, it has this wonderful treble accompaniment [1:20+], it's gorgeous, it adds layers to the piece, and still it morphs into deeper depths, there's a sense of the sad minor in its middle section [2:38+], and then later some really delicious high treble notes, very sparse, but like bells chiming out here and there [3:31+], what a creation from Rachmaninov, i was really moved by this.
Prelude 16 Op32/5, probably my favourite Prelude, i remember hearing Maura Lympany playing it on the radio, and i was stunned at its beauty, it's a heavenly creation, so full of innocence, and those rippling notes! [0:33+ & 1:10], the second burst is heart wrenching, damn that Rachmaninov, he really knows how to pull at your heartstrings, when the main tune comes back again, it's without those rippling trills, so enjoy those earlier ones all the more, just wow!.
Prelude 21 Op32/10, this one sounds like a piano version of his Vespers, old as the ages, it seeps of something eons ago, and yet timeless, in the Minor mode [B Minor], it's actually the longest Prelude of the 24, it's not really beautiful like the other two Preludes, but it has a depth to it, fairly sour i guess, and an angry middle section [1:52+], there's a tense frustration, and a constant hammering out of chords that grows and grows, really impressive, and just over halfway stuttering jagged rhythms [3:14+], and then quicksilver runs all over the place [3:43+], the melancholy opening returns, but right at the end there's a sort of coda [5:17+], which brings a sort of brighter hope, but the last notes are in the bass, a tremendously varied piece, and well worth deeply concentrating on, it was a joy to get to know this Prelude more today.
