Sergei Rachmaninov ： 4 Pieces – Romance fis-moll

This lyrical character piece in F-sharp minor is included in Rachmaninoff’s Four Pieces. Above a flowing accompaniment, a long-breathed melody unfolds in a songful manner, while rich harmonies and shadowed sonorities deepen its melancholy. The quiet feeling of the opening passes through contrasting, increasingly tense material toward a broad climax before gradually regaining its calm. The melody should be allowed to sing while the accompaniment remains restrained; natural rubato shaped by the direction of each phrase and careful pedaling that avoids blurring are essential to its expressive character.