Prelude in C-sharp minor (Rachmaninoff)

{ \new StaffGroup \with { \omit SystemStartBracket \override StaffGrouper.staffgroup-staff-spacing.basic-distance = #15 } << \new PianoStaff << \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #3/4 } << \relative c'' { \time 4/4 \clef treble \key cis \minor \tempo "Tempo I" \tempo 4 = 50 \set Staff.extraNatural = ##f r8\fff _\markup {\left-align \italic m.d.} <cis e gis cis>-> <e gis b e>->_\markup { \italic pesante} <dis fisis ais dis>-> r <d fis bis d>-> r <bis dis fis bis>-> r <cis e gis cis>->_\markup {\dynamic sffff} <e gis b e>-> <dis fisis ais dis>-> r <d fis bis d>-> r <bis dis fis bis>->} >> \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #3/4 } << \relative c { \time 4/4 \clef treble \key cis \minor <cis e gis cis>2-> <a' a'>4-> <gis gis'>-> <cis, e gis cis>2-> <a' a'>4-> <gis gis'>->} >> >> \new PianoStaff << \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #3/4 } << \relative c { \time 4/4 \clef bass \key cis \minor \set Staff.extraNatural = ##f r8\fff _\markup {\left-align \italic m.s.} <e gis cis e>-> <gis b e gis>->_\markup { \italic pesante} <fisis ais dis fisis>-> r <fis bis d fis>-> r <dis fis bis dis>-> r <e gis cis e>->_\markup {\dynamic sffff} <gis b e gis>-> <fisis ais dis fisis>-> r <fis bis d fis>-> r <dis fis bis dis>->} >> \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #3/4 } << \relative c,, { \time 4/4 \clef bass \key cis \minor <cis e gis cis>2->\sustainOn <a' a'>4-> \sustainOff \sustainOn <gis gis'>->\sustainOn <cis, e gis cis>2-> \sustainOn <a' a'>4->\sustainOff \sustainOn <gis gis'>->\sustainOn} >> >> >> }
The massive theme occupies four staves in the second A section. The top two staves are both played by the right hand, the bottom two by the left.

Sergei Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C-sharp minor (Russian: Прелюдия, romanized: Prelyudiya), Op. 3, No. 2, is one of the composer's most famous compositions. Part of a set of five piano pieces titled Morceaux de fantaisie, it is a 62-bar prelude in ternary (ABA) form. It is also known as The Bells of Moscow since the introduction seems to reproduce the Kremlin's most solemn carillon chimes.

Its first performance was by the composer on 26 September 1892,[1] at a festival called the Moscow Electrical Exhibition.[2] After this première, a review of the concert singled out the Prelude, noting that it had “aroused enthusiasm”.[1] From this point on, its popularity grew.

Rachmaninoff later published 23 more preludes to complete a set of 24 preludes covering all the major and minor keys, in a time-honoured tradition by composers such as Bach, Chopin, Alkan, Scriabin and others.

  1. ^ a b Bertensson, Sergei; Jay Leyda; Sophia Satina (2001). Sergei Rachmaninoff: A Lifetime in Music. Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 48–49. ISBN 0-253-21421-1.
  2. ^ Harrison, Max (2006). Rachmaninoff: Life, Works, Recordings. London: Continuum. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-8264-9312-2.