Rachmaninoff’s Depression: Etude-Tableau in G minor Op. 33 no. 7

[@nicholasmaestrelloagiz3786]

This is an amazing piece. Congrats on the performance.

[@grahamtwist]

I read with interest (and agreement!) the comment left with this upload by Luca, and also your response. I'm sure that whatever our psychological state of mind, it will always affect our behaviour in every respect, no matter what control we might try to exert to counter any negative drive. Unless you have experienced grief and despair, how could you express it authentically or convincingly in music? Or great joy? Or love? Or any emotion? Perhaps 'depression' is a gift if it enables such powerful and meaningful creativity as Rachmaninoff is able to display in his compositions? The Etude-Tableau in G minor you perform here, Cole, is so deeply affecting for me that I can hardly bear the waves of emotion that bathed me as I listened to you play. Your performance is just exquisite and leaves me in awe of the man who could create such sounds to penetrate the heart and soul, whatever picture may have been in his mind. I was nearly as moved with a recording by Nikolay Lugansky I listened to who commented that this Étude-tableau "casts a gloom, bringing to one’s mind Pushkin’s lines about autumn: ‘O drear and cheerless time, you charm the eye and tender. Contentment to the heart. How wondrous to behold Your dying beauty is, the lush and sumptuous splendour Of nature’s farewell bloom, the forests clad in gold...’ The drooping melodies seem to be sad remembrances of the past and even the sudden gusts of cold wind (in the middle of the piece) can’t dispel the mood of sweet sadness.” So, for me, 'sad remembrances' and 'sweet sadness' resonate somewhat more than any empty depression. B R A V O !

[@SergieRachmaninoff]

Fantastic performance. This is such a beautiful piece, though understated in its display.

[@cadenzalien4554]

One of my favorite études-tableaux, thank you for sharing your wonderful performance! I love the slower-than-usual tempo :)

[@abrowncownow360]

Great job. Your analytical ability is excellent and I appreciate your interpretation!

[@higgsking]

Incredible talent, Cole. This was amazing to hear and watch.

[@WaltzTime]

Gorgeous piece! Beautiful playing!

[@tarikeld11]

As a composer I must say your feelings don't always influnece your piece - often the opposite happens, you're happy and write the saddest piece, or you're sad and try to comfort you with more cheerful music

[@TheIndependentPianist]

Precisely-just take the example of Mozart. Nonetheless I think Rachmaninoff (and many others among the Romantics) tended to intentionally let their lives influence their work more directly than was common in other times.

[@abrowncownow360]

Scientist found the opposite actually. Listening to sad music when you are sad provides more comfort, as you feel the music relates to your feelings.

[@jakilevi3027]

What a wonderful performance! Well done...I must say that you really transmitted that sense of utter hopelessness that being really depressed brings.your interpretation seems truly authentic.

[@guvenkin]

I'm amazed by this explanation of musicality, great video 🤌

[@tk9806]

Incredible playing. I have listened many times to the performance by Idil Biret which has a much higher tempo. Considering your Interpretation this tempo fits perfectly.

[@fendertele17]

Ahh, beautiful man, thanks 👍🏻

[@rishidesai9755]

I love when you cover Rach's etude-tableaux! They're a favorite of mine. Have you considered covering works by Alberto Ginastera?

[@TheIndependentPianist]

I would certainly consider it! I've never played any Ginastera, so I would need to look into it.

[@lucawuthrich6594]

I personally think that he probably didn‘t actively try to let his depression influence this piece, as he had a specific picture in mind for all the etudes-tableaux, and this dark and fragile mood just fit for what he was trying to paint musically. I generally find that with the op 23 preludes, although still often dark and melancholic, his music seems to have more concept and control of the emotions. In his earlier music i find it more evident that he required the expressing of emotions in the music to cope with his depression. There are exceptions though, like fragments which he wrote after he left russia or the b minor prelude which was possibly written as a response to the destruction of his summer residence. I might be wrong, but for me it seems less evident in this etude. Btw fantastic performance as always.

[@TheIndependentPianist]

Yes, he definitely had some kind of program in mind of his own which he never shared. It's doubtful that it would have been what I came up with-but it was an idea that resonated for me. Thank you!

[@bjarkijonsson8899]

Yes

[@angelmeneg6507]

❤️❤️

[@oliverkewell4492]

i need them fingerings for that cadenza :(