en Preludes, Op. 32 (Rachmaninoff)

Performed in 2010, this is the tenth prelude of this opus (5:21)

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Thirteen Preludes (Russian: Тринадцать прелюдий, Trinadtsat' prelyudiy), Op. 32, is a set of thirteen preludes for solo piano, composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1910.

It complements his earlier Prelude in C♯ minor, Op. 3/2, and 10 Preludes, Op. 23, to complete the full set of 24 Preludes in all 24 major and minor keys.

Pieces

Prelude in G Sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12 (2:41)

Performed in 2013 by Barbara Semenchuk, this is the twelfth prelude of this opus (2:41)

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Opus 32 contains 13 preludes:

No. 1 in C major (Allegro vivace)
No. 2 in B♭ minor (Allegretto)
No. 3 in E major (Allegro vivace)
No. 4 in E minor (Allegro con brio)
No. 5 in G major (Moderato)
No. 6 in F minor (Allegro appassionato)
No. 7 in F major (Moderato)
No. 8 in A minor (Vivo)
No. 9 in A major (Allegro moderato)
No. 10 in B minor (Lento)
No. 11 in B major (Allegretto)
No. 12 in G♯ minor (Allegro)
No. 13 in D♭ major (Grave – Allegro)

Prelude No. 10

Prelude in B minor, Op. 32, No. 10, was written in 1910 along with the other twelve pieces. Rachmaninoff was inspired by Arnold Böcklin's painting "Die Heimkehr" ("The Homecoming" or "The Return").^[1]^[2] Rachmaninoff also stated to pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch that this was his personal favourite among his preludes. This is the second work of Rachmaninoff's to be inspired by one of Böcklin's paintings; the other being Isle of the Dead.^[3]

References

^ Roh, Y. (2015). A Comparative Study of Twenty-Four Preludes of Alexander Scriabin and Sergei Rachmaninoff. D.M. Thesis. Bloomington: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. p. 30.
^ Bertenson, S. & Leyda, J. (1956). Sergei Rachmaninoff: a Lifetime in Music. New York: New York University Press. p. 296.
^ Chilvers, Ian., ed. (2003) [1990]. "Böcklin, Arnold". Concise Dictionary of Art & Artists (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 69–70. ISBN 978-0-19-921342-9.

Sources

Baylor, Murray, Rachmaninoff 13 Preludes, Opus 32, For the Piano, Pg. 5. Alfred Music Publishing, New York,1988.
Brennan, Gerald, Schrott, Allen, Woodstra, Chris, All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music, Backbeat Books, California, 2005