Suite No. 1 (Rachmaninoff)

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Suite No.1 (or Fantaisie-Tableaux for two pianos), op. 5, is a composition for two pianos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Composed in 1893, this suite illustrates four extracts of poems, written by Lermontov, Byron, Tyutchev and Komiakov ^[1][2]. This work was first performed on November 30, 1893, by Rachmaninoff and Pavel Pabst in Moscow, and is dedicated to Tchaikovsky. Rachmaninoff composed the second suite in 1901.

The four movements are:

I. Barcarolle. Allegretto, in g minor.

1. At dusk half-heard the chill wave laps

   Beneath the gondola’s slow oar.

   …once more a song! once more the twanged guitar!

   …now sad, now gaily ringing,

   The barcarole comes winging;

   ‘The boat slid by, the waters clove;

   So time glides over the surge of love;

   The waters will grow smooth again,

   But what can rouse a passion slain!"

   (Lermontov)

II. La nuit... L'amour... Adagio sostenuto, in D major. (The night...the love...)

1. It is the hour when from the boughs

   The nightingale’s high note is heard;

   It is the hour when lover’s vows

   Seem sweet in every whisper’d word;

   And gentle winds, and waters near,

   Make music to the lonely ear…

   (Byron)

III. Les Larmes. Largo di molto, in g minor. (Tears)

1. Tears, human tears, that pour forth beyond telling,

   Early and late, in the dark, out of sight,

   While the world goes on its way all unwittingly,

   Numberless, stintless, you fall unremittingly,

   Pouring like rain, the long rain that is welling

   Endlessly, late in the autumn at night.

   (Tyutchev)

IV. Pâques. Allegro maestoso, in g minor. (Easter)

1. Across the earth a mighty peal is sweeping

   Till all the booming air rocks like a sea,

   As silver thunders carol forth the tidings,

   Exulting in that holy victory…

   (Khomyakov)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Suite No. 1 for two pianos was available at the International Music Score Library Project.