Grading Rachmaninov Preludes Op. 23 1-10

For those who played more of his Op. 23 preludes, if you can give me a rough idea the level of difficulty of these pieces.

I am currently learning no. 5, what's the so-called level of difficulty - not familiar with any of the grading system besides ABRSM ones so just a rough idea would be useful. I have the whole book and it's making me want to play them but they all seem so difficult, especially no. 7.

For those who played more of his Op. 23 preludes, if you can give me a rough idea the level of difficulty of these pieces.

From easiest to hardest:

no.1

no.10

no.3

no.6

no.4

no.5

no.7

no.8

no.9

no.2

For some, no.9 may be the hardest since it requires a nearly inhuman double thirds and sixths technique. However, no.2 is generally hard all around, containing nearly every pianistic obstacle there is! Number 5 (the really popular one) is quite difficult, requiring leaps, big chords, large left hand arpeggios, and voicing a melody and countermelody in the same hand, however it is manageable. I played it after having five years of piano experience (starting when I was 12 so I picked up faster of course), although I can't say I played it well. However, I feel now I could tackle it again and be succesful. I also play no.4 and no.6, which are stunningly beautiful. They are both about the same difficulty as no.5, but they are slow and lyrical. I would also highly recommend either of those. I plan on learning the whole set mabye next year or the year after.

Oh, and no.7 isn't quite as hard as it looks or sounds - Rachmaninoff takes advantage of the natural shape of the hand with this one.

Ta lovelies! Yes I do think the G minor (no.5) is really fun to play. Just saw a video of Gilel playing it on the front lines, wish I can play it as well as that one day.

@Nightscape - If no.7 is harder than no.5 - I'm not touching that song anytime soon. I'll probably start to skim through easier ones first. Well now I know who to come to for advice on 4 & 6

I've never heard any decent recordings of these Rachmaninov preludes though. Any recommendations?

I'll try and check him out. Ta chuck!

I really enjoy the Richter recording of the #5.

:) If you're interested in watching some videos of the Preludes being played there's a guy named Joe Townley who has videos on his website playing Preludes Op. 23 No.'s 2 (B-flat) 5 (g-min.) & 7(c-min.). He's not a concert pianist or anything - seems to be more a writer, but apparently he hurt his hand when he was young that messed up a career he'd started as a concert pianist. The performances are not real good, just adequate, I think but at least they give you an idea about what they look like when they are played. The website is

www.JoeTownley.com

;) If you're interested in watching some videos of the Preludes being played there's a guy named Joe Townley who has videos on his website playing Preludes Op. 23 No.'s 2 (B-flat) 5 (g-min.) & 7(c-min.). He's not a concert pianist or anything - seems to be more a writer, but apparently he hurt his hand when he was young that messed up a career he'd started as a concert pianist. The performances are not real good, just adequate, I think but at least they give you an idea about what they look like when they are played. The website is

www.JoeTownley.com

He has not a trace of taste or feeling, but apart from that he is the best man in the world

:)

seriously though..good technique....no feeling... i only watched the etude revolutionnaire though

He has not a trace of taste or feeling, but apart from that he is the best man in the world...seriously though..good technique....no feeling... i only watched the etude revolutionnaire though.

:) You know, I got that same impression....even his technique is not rock-solid, though I can forgive him that cos he doesn't promote himself as a concert pianist. His bio says he didn't play piano from 1981 to 2001 because of his finger injury (and an injury is definitely evident, if you watch his scherzo #2 and sonata #3 finale videos his right hand forefinger sticks way out in fast passages, and he hardly uses it from what i can see) He confesses in his guestbook that the pieces he plays are above his technical expertise cos he's concentrating so much just getting the notes right that he can't bring out the musicality in them. I think if he were to play some less difficult pieces his musicality might shine a little more (if he has any musicality, of course) But there must be "something" there just for him to be able to do what he does. Maybe if he'd had the chance he might have developed into a fine pianist, but he says he's not making videos any more because he hurt another finger recently. Wow, if anyone has had a run of bad luck with his hands, this guy is definitely the one.