Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances: The Sum Of All Things

Description
If you are a Rachmaninoff fan, his Symphonic Dances are worth a listen to gain further insight into the many shades of this dynamic composer. Join me, as we take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
The Symphonic Dances combine energetic rhythmic sections, reminiscent of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, with some of the composer's lushest harmonies. He also may have included material intended for a ballet entitled The Scythians, begun in 1914–15 but abandoned before he left Russia.

About Steven
Steven is a Canadian composer living in Toronto. He creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his website for more.

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Got a topic? Pop me off an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 

Transcript

Rachmaninoff wrote his Symphonic Dances while in New York in 1940. It was his last major composition, premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The work represents Rachmaninoff's later style of shifting harmonies and a focus on individual instrumental tone colours.

A point of interest was his use of the alto saxophone as a solo instrument, on the advice of American composer Robert Russell Bennett.

Throughout the composition, there are a myriad of musical quotations from Rachmaninoff's other works. These might be regarded as nostalgic reflections on the composer’s career.

Examples include a modified quotation from his unfortunate First Symphony. And a harmonic battle between the Dies Irae theme, representing Death, and a quotation from his All-night Vigil, representing Resurrection.

If you are a Rachmaninoff fan, these Dances are worth a listen to gain further insight into the many shades of this dynamic composer.