Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor

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Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18, is a work in C minor for piano accompanied by orchestra, composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff between the autumn of 1900 and April 1901.^[1] The second and third movements were first performed with the composer as soloist on 2 December 1900^[2]. The complete work was premiered, again with the composer as soloist, on October 27, 1901^[3], with his cousin Alexander Siloti conducting.

This piece is one of his most enduringly popular pieces, and established his fame as a concerto composer.^[4]

Composition

At its 1897 premiere, Rachmaninoff's first symphony, though now considered a significant achievement, was derided by critics.^[5] Compounded by problems in his personal life, Rachmaninoff fell into a depression that lasted for several years. His second piano concerto confirmed his recovery from clinical depression and writer's block. The concerto was dedicated to Nikolai Dahl, a physician who had done much to restore Rachmaninoff's self-confidence.^[6]

Score and instrumentation

The work is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B-flat and A, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in B-flat, 3 trombones (2 tenor, bass), tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, solo piano, and strings. It is written in a traditional, three-movement concerto form:

Moderato

First eight bars of the concerto

Main theme first played by the violin section

The opening movement begins with a series of bell-like tollings on the piano that build tension, eventually climaxing in the introduction of the main theme. At the climax of the movement the theme is transformed into a march.

Adagio sostenuto

The second movement opens with a series of slow chords in the strings which modulate from the C minor of the previous movement to the E major of this movement. The piano enters, playing a simple arpeggiated figure. A theme is introduced by the flute. The theme is passed between the piano and other soloists, before the music accelerates, climaxing with a piano cadenza. The original theme is repeated, and the music appears to die away, finishing with just the soloist.

Allegro Scherzando

The last movement opens with a short orchestral introduction before a piano cadenza leads to the statement of the agitated first theme. The excitement dies away and a lyrical theme is introduced by the oboe. After a long period of development the tension is built up considerably by a brilliant piano cadenza. The second theme erupts in a huge orchestration, leading to a fast coda to draw the piece to a close.

In popular culture

• The concerto, especially the last movement, is mentioned favorably by the heroes of Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead.
• The adagio sostenuto is the basis for the melodic theme of the 1976 pop/rock hit "All by Myself" by Eric Carmen.
• The adagio sostenuto is also the basis for the popera song "Nostalgia" by Amici Forever.
• The allegro scherzando theme is the basis for Frank Sinatra's 1945 "Full Moon And Empty Arms".
• The songs "Space Dementia", "Megalomania" and "Ruled by Secrecy" by the band Muse all contain quotes from the moderato.
• In the movie The Seven Year Itch, Tom Ewell plays a recording of the concerto in the hopes that the passionate music will seduce Marilyn Monroe.
• Other movies that mention the concerto are The World of Henry Orient; Rhapsody; Center Stage; and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. It features prominently as the sound track to Brief Encounter. In September Affair (1950), Joan Fontaine plays a pianist who is preparing to perform the concerto; the music appears often throughout the film, and near the end, she plays the concerto.
• The concerto was played by a character on the TV series Smallville.
• The concerto was featured in Nodame Cantabile (anime and drama version), with the piano solo played by Shinichi Chiaki, and the orchestra conducted by Franz von Stresemann.
• The concerto was background music in Harry's apartment in Spider-man 3.
• The concerto was featured in the anime Gankutsuou, with the piano solo played by Eugenie Danglars
• The adagio sostenuto and allegro scherzando movements appear during the second to last dance scene of the ballet movie Center Stage.

Further reading

• W.R. Anderson: Rachmaninov and his pianoforte concertos. A brief sketch of the composer and his style. London 1947
• So-Ham Kim Chung: An analysis of Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 in C Minor opus 18. Aids towards performance. Dissertation Ohio 1988

References

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External links

• Piano Concerto No. 2 was available at the International Music Score Library Project.