Moments musicaux

Rachmaninoff’s set of Six moments musicaux is a statement of intent from a 23-year-old composer keen to demonstrate his mastery of musical forms and his virtuosity as a pianist. The title is taken from a work by Schubert, a modest set of salon pieces, in contrast to Rachmaninoff’s muscular showpiece. Another model is Chopin, especially his lyrical melodies supported by turbulent accompaniments in the left hand. The set begins in a dark mood, and the first piece, “Andantino”, is sombre and reflective, like a Chopin nocturne. The second, “Allegretto”, is lighter and more ethereal, suggesting the piano textures of Schumann. The third, “Andante cantabile”, is the emotional heart of the set, a brooding melody over open chords deep in the piano’s bass section. The fourth, “Presto”, is stormy and virtuosic, a strident melody with a cascading left-hand accompaniment. Chopin is again the model, and the piece draws on his Revolutionary Étude. The darkness of the earlier movements lifts with No. 5, “Adagio sostenuto”, a gently flowing and untroubled barcarolle. The bright mood continues into the final number, the climactic “Maestoso”. Chopin’s etudes again provide the model, but Rachmaninoff creates even more expansive and resonant textures, a confident and accomplished conclusion affirming the maturity and sophistication of the young composer’s voice