Sergei Rachmaninov ： 4 Pieces – Prelude es-moll

The Prelude, the second piece in Rachmaninov’s Four Pieces, is a concise character piece that draws on the sombre hues of E-flat minor. Its weighty chords contrast with a singing melody, and its progression from quiet tension through growing emotion to a climax and lingering afterglow is especially compelling. Keep the harmony clear rather than blurred, while listening carefully to the movement of the inner voices. Let the melody breathe broadly and bring it into clear relief by keeping the accompaniment restrained. In addition to a wide dynamic range, careful shaping of phrase direction and pauses will convey both melancholy and dramatic power naturally.