"The use of ostinato continues in Pâques (Easter). Here, in the shortest movement of the Suite, Rachmaninov invokes Russian Liturgical chant set against the repetitive pattern of church bells, to great cumulative effect. This is a strikingly original and powerful movement."

Totally.  I haven't been so affected by something I've recently heard ( Read more... )

Yes, we all love Paganini, but just how much?

Sure he's influenced Brahms, Liszt and Rachmaninoff, but how many times have we looked past the '....based on a theme by Paganini'? I am ashamed that I did look past that, until today.

The reason I love classical WRR101, is that not only do they play the same old, same old - they'll whip out things that ( Read more... )

Click to view

The above (Rachmaninov playing Rachmaninov - it's his Prelude in C Sharp Minor of course) seemed suitable to the myriad of questions I've got rolling around my head.

I've done another rash thing - I've went ahead and scheduled surgery right after my surgical consult today.  I might have done a bad thing doing it so soon - but gosh, it was so long in ( Read more... )