Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 - Misplaced Pages

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Revision as of 10:37, 14 December 2024 by Natt1985 (talk | contribs) (→Structure)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This article is about the second set of études-tableaux by Rachmaninoff, Op. 39. For the first set, see Études-Tableaux, Op. 33.

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The Études-Tableaux ("study paintings"), Op. 39, is the second of two sets of piano études composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Op. 39 was composed sometime between 1916 and 1917 and were among the final works composed by Rachmaninoff before his exit from Russia.

Structure

The Op. 39 set comprises nine études:

No. 1 - Allegro agitato in C minor - "The Sea"
No. 2 - Lento assai in A minor - "The Sea and the Seagulls"

No. 2 in A minor Also known as "The Sea and the Seagulls". Though technically simple, the work contains many musical textures that make it a difficult study in touch. This melancholy piece requires much restraint from the performer to project the sedate mood of this etude. A sensitive performance is required to keep the performance from being monotonous. The technical workings of the etude is the 2 over 3 timing, the crossing hands, and large span of the arpeggiated figures for the left hand. The ending is tragic and poetic.

No. 3 - Allegro molto in F♯ minor
No. 4 - Allegro assai in B minor
No. 5 - Appassionato in E♭ minor
No. 6 - Allegro in A minor - "Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf"
No. 7 - Lento lugubre in C minor
No. 8 - Allegro moderato in D minor
No. 9 - Allegro moderato. Tempo di marcia in D major

Recordings

Rachmaninoff recorded Op. 39, No. 4 (piano roll only), and Op. 39, No. 6 (electrical recording and piano roll).
Evgeny Kissin recorded Nos. 1-2, 4-6, and 9 on the RCA Victor Red Seal label, May 16 and 17, 1988, in Watford Town Hall. The recording also includes the Piano Concerto No. 2, Opus 18, with the London Symphony Orchestra and Valery Gergiev conducting.
Another recording of the Op. 39 Études-Tableaux is by Alexander Melnikov on the Harmonia Mundi label. Other works are the Op. 38 songs and the Variations on a Theme of Corelli.
The Op. 39 also has been recorded by several other pianists, including Nicholas Angelich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and John Ogdon.