Rachmaninov Piano Concertos, overrated?

[KGill]

That does not mean those pieces are overrated, if most people aren't as thrilled by it as some people. It just means those people like it differently.

I'm beginning to think that the word "overrated" is overrated.

I think they say it better than I can. Also, I'll repeat Perlnerd's comment in response to 'why are they so famous'- the themes. People like tunes. That doesn't inherently make the piece with the tune bad music, it just means...people like tunes.

[Yagan Kiely]

They aren't my favourite pieces, but I don't dislike them and there is nothing wrong with them at all. I believe there are better composed and more musical concertos out there (and would argue such) but in the end, it is still mostly subjective.

[Niels]

but in the end, it is still mostly subjective.

Indeed.

[ZacPB189]

I personally think the whole concept of Piano concerto is becoming a little TOO overrated, I mean we really have enough of those. What about concertos for Trumpet, or Trombone, or Saxophone, or the Harp?

[vinteuil]

New forum, please. Getting off track like that is not good.

[allegroamabile]

?.......

I think Zac even brought up a descent point which is susprisingly becoming true. More and more contemporary composers are writing concertos for such instruments.

[Melodia]

Well as long as composers like Iiro Rantala keep writing, I'll take new ones...


As for Rach's, well if one has problems with the orchestra's role in them, what about Chopin's?

And personally, I wouldn't mind if Rach's 2nd symphony were even longer, but that's just me.

[allegroamabile]

Listening to Rachmaninov's Second is like getting a taste of heaven, especially in the climax of the Adagio. It's a great piece for clarinettist too.

[Niels]

I love Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto.

[vinteuil]

It's really fun to play (says the pianist)

[Niels]

How much time did you need to learn it?

[vinteuil]

Something like 5 months. The third movement....

[sbeckmesser]

Rachmaninoff has long (always) been one of my "deaf" spots. I believe his greatest orchestral works are, in order, the Symphonic Dances, the 3rd Symphony and the Rhapsody. I find the piano writing in the concertos unremittingly dense and opaque, an attribute I also find in much of his solo-piano music. The Emperor's comment to Mozart ("Too many notes") applies much better to Rachmaninoff.

--Sixtus

[Melodia]

See, when someone makes a post like the above, I have to wonder why they don't just enjoy music as it is. It's like Saint-Saens once said -- "He who does not take a thorough pleasure in a simple chord progression, well constucted, beautiful in its arrangement, does not love music."

[KGill]

when someone makes a post like the above

Which?