Review (PDF) Complete Preludes And Etudes-Tableaux (Dover Music For Piano)

                
              
Review (PDF) 
Complete Preludes And Etudes-Tableaux (Dover Music For Piano)
The 24 preludes and 17 etudes-tableaux of Serge Rachmaninoff include what are possibly his finest compositions for solo piano. Each of these masterly works is included in this complete collection, reproduced from recent, authoritative Russian editions. They include: Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2; Ten Preludes, Op. 23; Thirteen Preludes, Op. 32; Eight Etudes-tableaux, Op. 33; Nine Etudes-tableaux, Op. 39. Among these are the enormously popular C-sharp minor prelude, Op. 3, No. 2; the G-minor prelude, Op. 23, No. 5; and the B-minor prelude, Op. 32, No. 10 — classics that have made Rachmaninoff one of the most performed and recorded modern composers.Each of these works reflects Rachmaninoff's emotional intensity, his thrilling gifts as a melodist and his ability to crystallize perfectly a particular mood or sentiment. In their sonorous textures and rich embellishment, they reflect as well his sovereign command of keyboard technique and his spectacular gifts as a pianist (he was one of the very greatest pianists of the 20th century). This beautifully produced yet inexpensive edition will provide both amateur and professional pianists a lifetime of study and enjoyment, and will afford music lovers as well the deep pleasures of following, music in hand, live and recorded performances of these keyboard masterpieces.
Series: Dover Music for Piano
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Dover Publications (July 1, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0486256960
ISBN-13: 978-0486256962
Product Dimensions:  8.4 x 0.5 x 11.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:  4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #96,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)   #2 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Rachmaninoff   #5 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Late Romantic   #28 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Composition
This is not a bad collection of the preludes and etudes-tableaux. I have owned it for many years, and learned many pieces from it. However, a far better edition is that published by Henle in two volumes one for the preludes, and the other for the etudes-tableaux. The Henle edition is clearer, more legible, authoritative and a pleasure to play from. This edition cramps up the notes, is printed on mediocre paper, and the legibility is inferior to the Henle. an example, look at the prelude op 32 no 10. Because of this book's smaller format the prelude runs over five pages, and the right hand run (a highlight of the piece is spread over two pages); the Henle is spread over four pages but it is far easier to read due in part to the larger format, but also due to the thought that Henle has gone into in preparing this edition for the player. And the run I referred to is on a single page, making it far easier to grasp its musical logic and importance. Another example is the majestic Etude-tableaux in Eb Minor op 39 no 5. Take a look at the Dover edition at bar 53 onwards on the fifth page, which is the section marked Tempo 1 pesante. In the Dover edition it's hard to read because the notes are spaced as they are throughout the piece close together. In the Henle edition, the editors actually spread out the notes making them far easier to read and play. In other words, Henle's editors actually think about the pianist and what will make the works easier to read (and learn).So, ok buy this if you are on a budget or are unsure whether Rachmaninoff is for you. But otherwise buy the Henle. It is more expensive, but you won't regret it and indeed will be rewarded every time you sit down to play a work from these masterpieces of the piano.
Complete Preludes and Etudes-Tableaux (Dover Music for Piano) Complete Preludes, Etudes Tableaux and Moments Musicaux, Op. 16 Complete Etudes for Solo Piano, Series I: Including the Transcendental Etudes (Dover Music for Piano) The Piano Works of Rachmaninoff, Vol 2: Etudes Tableaux, Op. 33 and Op. 39 (Belwin Edition) The Complete Preludes & Etudes: For Solo Piano Great Piano Etudes: Masterpieces by Chopin, Scriabin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Others (Dover Music for Piano) Complete Piano Transcriptions from Wagner's Operas (Dover Music for Piano) by Liszt, Franz, Classical Piano Sheet Music (1981) Paperback Complete Preludes, Books 1 and 2 (Dover Music for Piano) Twelve Etudes for Piano: Piano Solo (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics) Russian Piano Music: 44 Pieces by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Mussorgsky and Others (Dover Music for Piano) Claude Debussy Piano Music 1888-1905 (Dover Music for Piano) Piano Music of Robert Schumann, Series I (Dover Music for Piano) Piano Music of Robert Schumann, Series III (Dover Music for Piano) Eighteen Little Preludes, Bwv 924-8, 930, 933-43 & 999: Easier Piano Pieces 18 (Easier Piano Pieces (ABRSM)) Overtures and Preludes in Full Score (Dover Music Scores) Iberia and España: Two Complete Works for Solo Piano (Dover Music for Piano) Complete Sonatas and Fantasies for Solo Piano (Dover Music for Piano) Complete Sonatas, Invitation to the Dance and Other Piano Works (Dover Music for Piano) Complete Shorter Works for Solo Piano (Dover Music for Piano) Complete Piano Works for Four Hands (Dover Music for Piano) 