Sergei Rachmaninoff

Sergei Rachmaninoff, a Russian pianist, composer, and conductor, is another one of my favorite composers from the Romantic Period. 

Rachmaninoff's prominent feature of the piano in his compositions is my primary attraction to him, mainly because of my strong attraction to the instrument itself. I have never claimed to be a gifted pianist, the only piece, of his, that I have attempted to play is his Prelude in C Sharp MInor, Op. 3, No. 2.  And not very successfully, I might add. Though the reason for my choosing to study the piano as my primary instrument was mainly because of the rich, stringed, harmony that is produced by the piano. The fact that the piano can, harmonically, stand alone, almost as if a recreating a small ensemble, baffles me. I have always been attracted to a full, layered, sound and the piano is able to execute such an attribute single handedly.

As for Rachmaninoff's use of the piano in his compositions, his piano concertos, in my opinion, are astounding, I find it hard to determine a favorite. Though I am able to easily distinguish my favorite piano solo piece, of his, that being, Etude-Tableaux: Op. 33, No.2 in C Major. It remains, to me, to this day, complete perfection.