Hello, dear fellow South Carolinian, and (hopefully) future colleague. I hope the day finds you well. I'm going to get right down to business with this most lovely Rhapsody.
First and foremost, my attention was snared and held right from the first measure. Bravo on that, because I'm easily distracted. >.> That four-note motif really had a way of drawing me in; while it was at once pensive and retenue, it had a psychotic potential to it; in my own composer's mind, I can hear a tense, fortissimo strings passage of those same four notes, screaming through the hall. Now don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to change your music. I'm merely demonstrating the different underlying feelings that visit me while reading through it. (This is something I do often, sorry...)
My next comment has to do with the liberal use of the pedal throughout; this daring maneuver worked marvelously. Sebastian put it well in using the word "atmospheres;" I really could feel the presence of different levels of sound to that massive extent, and it was a lovely effect. In contrast with Mr. Sebastian, though, I did feel as though these layered globules of sound led to something, starting right about 2:33, building all the way to what I perceived as the climax of the piece around 3:18 or so.
The winding down of material from this climax to the end felt absolutely natural, like it was simply meant to be. Nice job on that. My first time reading through, I did find the last three chords to be a bit odd, given the texture of the piece, but in context, it makes for a near-perfect release of the leftover tension. I think played ever so slightly quieter, and allowed to ring just a tad bit longer, my gripe would be gone. (That's more of a comment on the pianist than the composer, though. :P)
For now I shall cut my commentaire merdique to a rest. I applaud you infinitely, and if you don't mind, I'd greatly love to learn this piece as well, myself being a pianist at heart.
Keep up the good work, mate.
~Dallas