Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto no. 3?!
Question: Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto no!. 3!?
What makes this piece difficult!? It is commonly referred to as one of the most difficult concertos in the entire repertoire, but listening to it, the technical challenges do not seem much greater than those observed in the second concerto!. The famous "cadenza" chords are all easily reached with the hand(one octave)!. What is difficult in playing this concerto!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
Actually, having played and spoken to people who have played both, it seems that the Second is much harder!. However, you're right; the third is the fabled Warhorse of piano concertos!.
Some of the legend arises from the third's great length, the first movement being almost 20 minutes long!. The hardest part (I find) is actually at the end of the second movement and the begining of the first, with those ridiculously fast bouncing chords, and the runs that led up to them!. Those do, in fact, rival the difficulties posed by the second concerto!. However, #2 is just harder overall!. I suppose the real challenge of the third is in the amount of stamina required of a performer, to spend twenty minutes on hand-twisting variations, then move into the rapid runs of the third movement (which, almost unfairly, start in the middle of the second movement!. I always thought of the second movement as a calm-time to rest before the storm, but that doesn't happen here)!. also, that cadenza you mention; apparently, it just sounds hard!. You're quite right; the notes themselves aren't too terribly challenging for an experienced player!.
Strangely, I find that the Rach concerti aren't even nearly the hardest in the standard repertoire!. I don't know how 'standard' Prokofiev's concerti are, but they're played quite a bit in my circles!. The two common ones, #1 and #3, are truly beastial to learn (pattern!? what pattern!?)!. also, when you get down to the wire, a Beethoven or Mendelssohn concerto is grilled much more harshly for emotion and sound quality, just because!. In Rachmaninoff, you can get a way with a little bit of the play-loud-and-fast cop-out, but not in Beethoven!. I guess that's just how it goes!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Some of the legend arises from the third's great length, the first movement being almost 20 minutes long!. The hardest part (I find) is actually at the end of the second movement and the begining of the first, with those ridiculously fast bouncing chords, and the runs that led up to them!. Those do, in fact, rival the difficulties posed by the second concerto!. However, #2 is just harder overall!. I suppose the real challenge of the third is in the amount of stamina required of a performer, to spend twenty minutes on hand-twisting variations, then move into the rapid runs of the third movement (which, almost unfairly, start in the middle of the second movement!. I always thought of the second movement as a calm-time to rest before the storm, but that doesn't happen here)!. also, that cadenza you mention; apparently, it just sounds hard!. You're quite right; the notes themselves aren't too terribly challenging for an experienced player!.
Strangely, I find that the Rach concerti aren't even nearly the hardest in the standard repertoire!. I don't know how 'standard' Prokofiev's concerti are, but they're played quite a bit in my circles!. The two common ones, #1 and #3, are truly beastial to learn (pattern!? what pattern!?)!. also, when you get down to the wire, a Beethoven or Mendelssohn concerto is grilled much more harshly for emotion and sound quality, just because!. In Rachmaninoff, you can get a way with a little bit of the play-loud-and-fast cop-out, but not in Beethoven!. I guess that's just how it goes!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
If you are blessed with really large hands, the plus octave reaches are easily accomplished!. And most of the great performance of the Rach 3 are performed by pianists with large hands!.
Good luck!Www@Enter-QA@Com
Good luck!Www@Enter-QA@Com