Sergei Rachmaninov ： Morceaux de salon “Humoresque” G-Dur op.10-5

The fifth piece of Rachmaninoff’s Morceaux de salon, “Humoresque,” is a character piece in G major, marked by brightness and wit. In the lively, crisp main section, the buoyancy of the rhythm and its delicate motion propel the music forward. By contrast, the more songful passages offer lyrical flow and a sense of expanding sonority, creating vivid contrasts throughout the piece. In performance, the staccatos and accents should not become too hard, while a light forward impulse is maintained. Bringing the melody clearly above the inner voices and accompaniment, and carefully varying tone and dynamics according to the character of each section, brings out the work’s humor and refinement.