19-Year-Old Rachmaninoff: Analysis of the C-sharp Minor Prelude | EP 11

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RockSinCity
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In this video I dive into Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2, one of the most celebrated works of the Romantic piano repertoire, composed when Rachmaninoff was only 19. I explore the harmonic drama, structural complexity, and emotional intensity that make this piece an unforgettable masterpiece. From the foreboding opening chords to the electrifying middle section the entire piece is connected through a very intricate motivic elaboration.

00:00:00 Introduction and presentation the prelude
00:01:23 Performance and first analytical approach to Section A
00:07:01 Performance of Section B
00:09:30 Performance of Section A''
00:12:00 Presentation of the coda section and overall consideration
00:14:05 Motivic and harmonic analysis of Section A
00:23:18 The Rachmaninov chord (Neapolitan and Augmented German 6th)
00:33:10 The tonal plan: C sharp minor - E major - G sharp minor
00:48:00 Phrygian modality, impressionistic mixtures and closing statement
00:54:30 Structural overview of Section A
00:57:58 Minor changes and expansion of Section A' with structural overview
01:11:10 Middle Section B. Structural overview and complementarity
01:16:50 Inversion of tonal plan: C sharp minor - A major - F sharp minor
01:23:58 Harmonic and motivic analysis of Section B
01:37:43 Climatic sequences
01:46:00 Analysis of the coda
01:50:10 Closing considerations

I’m Dr. Bohdan Syroyid, and if you’d like to study music composition with me, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at bohdansyroyid@gmail.com. I’m looking to build a community of people interested in music composition and analysis, so please feel free to introduce yourself to other viewers by sharing a bit about your musical background and interests.

If you want to listen to my music, check out @syroyid

#rachmaninoff #rachmaninov #musiccomposition #syroyid #piano

Special thanks to Bjarke and Brigitte
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