Lugansky - Rachmaninoff, Étude-Tableau, Appassionato (Op. 39, No. 5)

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Étude-Tableau, Op. 39 (1916-1917)
No. 5 in E♭ minor. Appassionato
Nikolai Lugansky, 2020
St. Petersburg Philharmonic
Études-Tableaux, Op. 33 / Op. 39 • Lugansky - Rachmaninof...
“The Études-tableaux op. 39 (1916) is the last Rachmaninov's work written in Russia, The whole cycle, conceived on a larger scale than op. 33, was performed for the first time in February 1917, the last days of the Russian empire. The coming events cast their sinister shadows over this composition. Eight pieces of nine are written in minor. […]
Étude-tableau No. 5 in E flat minor was written last and became probably the most popular piece in the whole cycle. Inspired poem of rare harmonic beauty recreated the epic living image of Russia in her tragic grandeur. The excitement mounting throughout the piece is summarized in the grandiose culmination of the reprise, after which the tension subsides, and everything dissolves in the quiet of the coda.”
- Lugansky

[@musicsdarkangel]

If you can understand it, this piece is incredible to learn. It has phrasing, voicing, jazz harmony progressions such as 3, 6, 2, 5, 1’s, changes in mood, requires clean pedaling. It’s one of the all-time shorter masterpieces, in my opinion. If you pay attention, it’ll train your ear on the tonal centers/chords, theory knowledge, pattern recognition and phrasing. The key is to mindfully memorize it, acknowledging the chords in sound/theory and voice leading to memorize more easily, phrase by phrase or measure by measure.

[@cletusclaypin-macdonald4551]

A vid? Or individual by individual? And yes I want to study this piece thoroughly. I'm seeing some mood changes representational of what Rach was going through. Escaped to Paris, head turned over his shoulder towards Holy Russia knee deep in blood. The revolutionary waves start out not overwhelming but fade then come back stronger than before. The anguish of being swept up in a genocide follows. Then where the melody is played in the left hand and the chords in soprano register - I think most don't get this part- the left hand is normal life being subducted and the right hand IS the melody. Each time that chord comes down it is the victims and about to be victims shrieking DON'T! DON'T! DON'T! then a teaser denouement, Maj for a beat and a half or so , God's peace to the dead. But the rest of us are still alive, some clashing moments adjusting to the new regime. Then resignation as the only way to survive. The End. I'm poor. On disability. The electronics on my digital piano don't work. Still willing to help me dive deeper into #5?

[@matthewpachev8221]

dont correlate jazz and rach i know they are related but rach is transcendence compared to modern jazz

[@musicsdarkangel]

@@matthewpachev8221 No. I happened to be reading through Rach etudes-tableaux. I attended a great conservatory for my masters and understand theory. I've analyzed Gaspard de la Nuit from multiple angles, performed it and many other difficult works. I will analyze and say exactly what is happening because I know. For example, most Chopin etudes consist of simple chords; that's why we analyze with figured bass. Opus 10 no 1? Nearly all major and minor chords but arpeggiated. Op 25 no 1? Same thing. But the genius is not necessarily in the harmony for these- it's in the register, texture and the lines. The same can be said about Rachmaninoff, who by the way, is my hero. You're also being very dismissive of "modern jazz", as if it's a single genre. Jazz is likely the broadest genre out there. Like it or not, Ravel and Rachmaninoff were also influenced by their contemporary jazz, as jazz was by classical, particularly Debussy.

[@musicsdarkangel]

@@blackscreen7994 Not with 9ths. There was never music before the romantic period that had these jazz progressions with 9ths. That was pioneered by the French and borrowed from great composers and jazzers, as great composers do. Even Beethoven, who was ahead of his time only made use of 9th chords in isolation in his later sonatas- never connecting 3 6 2 5 1's with color tones. It is 100% jazz theory and voicing for moments of op 39 no 5, with Rachmaninoff's genial texture and chromaticism.

[@dreadjoker10]

@@musicsdarkangelDo you actually play jazz though? You can study jazz theory all day in books but, these chords sound like normal rach/late-romanticism harmony. 9ths aren't jazz chords automatically, there's a Db13 at the end but again that's not a jazz Db13. Jazz harmony is known for free coloration of chords...whereas this sounds like functional coloration of chords. Which is bit different.

[@alexdimopoulos769]

The re-exposition makes me feel like I'm re-entering the atmosphere with a spaceship screeching ablaze.

[@restonnova6745]

The sound of Lugansky is absolutely beautiful, control and passion.

[@armandssurins3364]

0:03 ;

[@christianvennemann9008]

Absolutely in love with the chord at 4:44.

[@saemg.6698]

Thank you so, so, much for brining Luganksy's performances to here. Lugansky is my favorite pianist, and every time i get a notification from your channel i come here running with such expectation and joy. I just, thank you. I do not know whether Enchanted Wanderer, the name of the channel, refers to you yourself or Luganksy, but I am most definitely ehchanted here. I hope I can follow your journey as long as possible (and GOD I HOPE KZbin WON'T EVER PUT DOWN YOUR VIDEOS😭 IMHO performances like this must be shared with those who can apprciate its beauty, regardless of spatiotemproal conditions.)

[@francoriva55]

Dear mr Lugansky , you are a fantastic musician and pianist. We love you. From Como lake where Rachm came here ... !

[@user-st7fb2ty3u]

Rachmaninoff's Etudes-Tableau is a piece that requires sophisticated techniques and excellent finesse.I like no2 and no5 among them.

[@aleksanderkalicki5518]

Lugansky is my favorite pianist, thanks for your upload

[@radamik]

This is one of the most stunning pieces in all of piano music. Absolutely powerful in its originality, emotion, and presentation. I can well imagine being exhausted and exhilarated at the same time after performing this work.

[@1stlast290]

True

[@ctd.]

The phrasing is pretty complex in the development. But the re-exp (3:00) causes a minor heart attack :)

[@cristinawierzbicki4688]

Extralrdinaria obra pianistica ! Ejecutada por el mejor pianista del mundo! Imposible no llorar al escucharla,! Felicitaciones ! Gracias Maestro Nicolaii Lugansky !!!! Magistral interpretacion!👏👏👏👏👏

[@chazinko]

3:22 Big vertical attacks for power!

[@froggy8919]

omg..this is totally amazing!!!!

[@jungwirthmartin]

Omg, what a fantastic performance!

[@fslubin]

Shakes time and space!

[@DanielGarcia-tu7gu]

Thanks, fantastic, wish get some lessons from him! Masterclass

[@hughlazarus7806]

Brilliant Playing your command of the keyboard is second to none

[@Ferdinand314]

Marvelous! Fantastic interpretation of this impassioned piece.

[@jochanaan58]

Lovely long lines in this reading.

[@dnata447]

Луганский ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ браво 👏👏👏👏👏

[@AngeloDeAngelis748]

Bravoooo

[@okay8094]

Where did you find the program notes by Lugansky? He did write an essay on the Etudes I believe

[@EnchantedWanderer]

Those program notes came with the Études-Tableaux CD (1993.)

[@stefaniavallonchini1902]

Wonderful ❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🔝🔝

[@happycreeper6923]

Rachmaninov a été affecté par la mort de Scriabine. Il a composé cette étude en reprennant le style de son ami

[@tomowenpianochannel]

Never thought that. But perhaps that is true! Interesting

[@j.vonhogen9650]

Interesting! Do you have a source for that?

[@marcoesquandolez]

Is that a quote from Rach2? Never noticed that before

[@BADRUBULDURA]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@geofffreeburn868]

All is not lost a parallel to Horowitz, Richter and Gilels