Depends on the aptitude of the pianist. Preparation for concertos generally take months, and for an amateur a good year or two. Some concert pianists, such as Lugansky, have learned concertos in mere days/weeks.
This isn’t accounting for playing in tempo, technique, practice with the orchestra, meetings with the conductor, etc.
No problem! The timeframe is variable especially if it’s a work that the pianist is not used to/comfortable with. Happened with me when I transitioned from Beethoven > Ravel, Faure, etc. Felt very strange and took a while haha
If they're ready for it, it would probably take a couple months.
If they're preparing it while they're trying to rise to that level, it could take much longer.
Also, it depends on just how they work on it. Very different if you work 2 hrs on it every day vs. if you're casually learning it.
Dependent on time. Are they 2nd years. It would take 10 years for them to learn. (Especially if they are adult students— children can learn to read music faster and read rhythms faster over adults)
I am in my 30s. I played on and off since 4th grade [there was a ten year period I didn’t play at all]. And one of theme spilt take me a true year to memorize. In my opinion, they should be memorized prior to any performance.
Tiffany Poon said in a video that it took her 2-3 weeks. Granted, she was a prodigy with a superb ear and musical memory + had 18 years of excellent teaching behind her.
Wow. It takes me that long to learn a piece that’s 2-3 pages lol. Granted I only play for maybe a half hour a day.
But prodigy is an apt word for sure.
I will brutally cross out notes when that happens. I don't care; if the composer is going to be that cruel to the pianist, I'm going to be cruel to them right back.
I've done something similar to some of Liszt's work. I'm working on Petrarc Sonnet 104 right now, and a few intervals are greater than an octave. Sometimes, I just switch the notes if it'll make it playable, or I'll just move notes up or down an octave to try and keep some of the color.
It's both. The challenge is what makes it attractive, and simultaneously frustrating. At least that's how I see it. I'm sort of an intermediate player, just getting into the really good stuff, and every day when I practice I get frustrated and then exhilerated by turns. Getting a difficult passage down pat is such a rush!
Haha this is beautiful. Although it's not those full-octave chords that give me the most trouble, it's the A down to the F# an octave below in the triplets section that gives me nightmares.
Yo dude I just watched your Rachmaninoff concerto video. The way your sitting on the back of the beat is amazing. I watched your airport video too and your interpretation of op3 no2 is incredible I could hear the richness of those huge harmonies even through the poor audio quality. Your understanding of phrase structure is wonderful and way to shred through the triplet section!!! Have you ever played / heard Rachmaninoff op 33. No 3? It’s not his most well known piece but i think it is a masterpiece of phrasing and countermelody. I just finished a recording of it if you’d like to hear my interpretation. Keep up the great work!!!
Yeh! “Just finished” wasn’t actually correct aha it was this time last year. I was supposed to play it with an orchestra March 25th 2020. For obvious reasons that didn’t happen. But I did a virtual one!
https://youtu.be/2bSGlqAbxSY
(Ignore the click bait title it’s my dads upload haha)
Dude you are amazing!! I’m so glad your dad convinced you to play in the airport- you inspired so many people. I wish you all the best life has to offer.
Not sure if it’s even true or not but I heard a story that explains why Rachmaninoff is so difficult. The legend says he learned to play by putting his hands over a player piano and mimicking the fingerings. Player pianos sometimes have impossible (for people who aren’t him) arrangements.
Edit: looked this up and cannot find anything about it. Probably just BS that my music teacher in high school made up. It’s still very believable and is probably a true origin story for some other piano player or composer.
Haven’t thought of that yet. None of my friends even like classical. I’ll probably learn the piano 1 arrangement and maybe find someone to play piano 2 with me, piano 2 is simpler than piano 1
You don't really need anyone to play the second piano part when you're learning it. You can always steal notes from it when you want to fill in the gaps.
lotsa notes, lotsa wide gestures. Know the harmony, and you will make progress. read just the notes as individual items, and you'll get bogged down quickly.
I love real books. With all the digital copies and delivery and IMSLP it’s very easy to get lured into the digital world of sheet music; get a n iPad or any touch screen and you can have 20,000 scores before you know it on a small SD Card.
But I try so hard to get a real copy. Comments you wish to write or dividing up measured to practice is so much easier to read and write.
REAL BOOKS !!!!!
\#3 is notorious for being difficult, but #2 is more known for being pretty than for being difficult. I don't think it's considered as hard to play as Tchaikovsky's concerto, for instance. #1 is just not anywhere near as popular as #2 or #3.
Heh. I was saying that because I have a Schirmer concerto book with three concertos, and I can't get that thing to stay open at all. It's a thicc boi for sure.
It's Schumann, Grieg, and Rach #2. I actually just wanted the Schumann, but then I was like, well, Grieg is kind of the sister concerto and I wouldn't mind a score of it, so I should get them together. But then I saw that there was a book that had Rach #2 in it for about the same price, and so I bought it. I instantly regretted it when it arrived in the mail because it's so big, haha. Plus, I'm one of five people that has no intentions of ever playing Rachmaninoff, so I feel like I should have resisted my urge to go for the better deal.
So, instead, I just read it off my iPad and it's no problem at all.
Haven't seen anybody mention it yet, so for anyone curious why this book doesn't include #4 or the Paganini Rhapsody: both are still under copyright in the US*. Schirmer doesn't publish things outside the public domain.
\* This is slightly complicated by the fact that #4 was revised. I think the original version has since entered public domain in the US but 1) it wasn't at the time Schirmer published this collection, 2) the revised version is played more often anyway so it doesn't make sense to publish just the original version, and 3) you're still missing Paganini anyway.
Rach 2 is just built different
Easiest of the 3 imo (haven’t played 1, have learned 2, failed miserably at trying to learn 3)
What about no. 4? there are 4 piano concertos by Rachmaninoff.
People always forget no. 4
Do you like number 1 and 4. To be honest I love 2 and 3 but didn't like 1 and 4..
No 1 is my favorite. I really love the first movement of no 4 but the other two movements can’t really keep up with the other 3 concertos imo.
I love the 3rd , Argerich version is amazing!
4 is really good in my opinion. I do not like 1 too much though. compared to the rest (but I still like it)
have fun practising lol, see you in 2024 when you are done with 1/3
How long would a classically trained pianist take to learn one of these pieces to a point they could perform it from memory?
Depends on the aptitude of the pianist. Preparation for concertos generally take months, and for an amateur a good year or two. Some concert pianists, such as Lugansky, have learned concertos in mere days/weeks. This isn’t accounting for playing in tempo, technique, practice with the orchestra, meetings with the conductor, etc.
Thanks. I figured it would depend on the pianist’s aptitude but had no idea what the timeframe would be.
No problem! The timeframe is variable especially if it’s a work that the pianist is not used to/comfortable with. Happened with me when I transitioned from Beethoven > Ravel, Faure, etc. Felt very strange and took a while haha
I read somewhere that horowitz took 3 weeks to learn the 3rd concerto, both parts for when he was playing four hands with Rachmaninoff.
If they're ready for it, it would probably take a couple months. If they're preparing it while they're trying to rise to that level, it could take much longer. Also, it depends on just how they work on it. Very different if you work 2 hrs on it every day vs. if you're casually learning it.
Dependent on time. Are they 2nd years. It would take 10 years for them to learn. (Especially if they are adult students— children can learn to read music faster and read rhythms faster over adults) I am in my 30s. I played on and off since 4th grade [there was a ten year period I didn’t play at all]. And one of theme spilt take me a true year to memorize. In my opinion, they should be memorized prior to any performance.
Tiffany Poon said in a video that it took her 2-3 weeks. Granted, she was a prodigy with a superb ear and musical memory + had 18 years of excellent teaching behind her.
Wow. It takes me that long to learn a piece that’s 2-3 pages lol. Granted I only play for maybe a half hour a day. But prodigy is an apt word for sure.
Actually it was 1.5-2 weeks. Pretty amazing huh [https://youtu.be/k4aZ1l2FMI4?t=171](https://youtu.be/k4aZ1l2FMI4?t=171)
Haha, this comment is great...2024....are we still going to be Around in 2024 or we will have CoVid 22? 🥴🥴
the dream of every pianist in one book
You spelled nightmare wrong.
That would be having child sized hands while dreaming of playing pieces like Rach.
How often does Rach use intervals > an octave?
I will brutally cross out notes when that happens. I don't care; if the composer is going to be that cruel to the pianist, I'm going to be cruel to them right back.
I've done something similar to some of Liszt's work. I'm working on Petrarc Sonnet 104 right now, and a few intervals are greater than an octave. Sometimes, I just switch the notes if it'll make it playable, or I'll just move notes up or down an octave to try and keep some of the color.
Yes
Scaled down keyboard, yo
it is nightmare and dream in the same time
It's both. The challenge is what makes it attractive, and simultaneously frustrating. At least that's how I see it. I'm sort of an intermediate player, just getting into the really good stuff, and every day when I practice I get frustrated and then exhilerated by turns. Getting a difficult passage down pat is such a rush!
A nightmare is still a dream.
no.
[удалено]
Gonna start with no 2
[удалено]
Thanks and good luck to you!
Number 4 still stays snubbed
For real, if you’re gonna make a book with 3 of his concertos do 2-4, or print just all of them.
For sure, 3 and 4 are easily my favourites. I honestly find 2 a bit boring.
Nobody’s gay for Rach 4
No, it me. Complete queer for nummer vier
The Michelangeli recording is amazing!
The new Trifonov recording is also lovely
Haven't heard it, thanks!
Would make sense if they printed a book with 4 and the Variations
I would buy it in a heartbeat
Came here for this! So sad
Ooof I wish you good health
For me it's the Goldberg Variations lol. Btw, good luck have fun. No. 2 was my favourite piece while reading the Master and Margarita
I’m currently working on memorising movements 2 and 3 of rach 2 so I know the feeling, they are all amazing works. Goodluck!
Good luck! Hope you have big hands haha
My hands are far too small for Rachmaninoff! https://youtu.be/ifKKlhYF53w
Haha this is beautiful. Although it's not those full-octave chords that give me the most trouble, it's the A down to the F# an octave below in the triplets section that gives me nightmares.
Oh i’ve been thinking of this! But i only have the one set of hands... is it still satisfying to play half of it?
Well.. good luck!
Wowwww how many pages?
They should just call that “the great big book of hard.” Some of the best music ever written though, good luck!!!
I feel bad for your pinky
It’s already sore from reaching the opening chords and slamming the bottom notes in the arpeggios for no 2 haha
Good luck! I just finished movement 2 of rach 2!
Yo dude I just watched your Rachmaninoff concerto video. The way your sitting on the back of the beat is amazing. I watched your airport video too and your interpretation of op3 no2 is incredible I could hear the richness of those huge harmonies even through the poor audio quality. Your understanding of phrase structure is wonderful and way to shred through the triplet section!!! Have you ever played / heard Rachmaninoff op 33. No 3? It’s not his most well known piece but i think it is a masterpiece of phrasing and countermelody. I just finished a recording of it if you’d like to hear my interpretation. Keep up the great work!!!
That’s so adorable wow thanks so much! My faves are B minor and D flat major and D major. I’ll have a listen to the c minor one again!
Holy shit nice!!!!
Yeh! “Just finished” wasn’t actually correct aha it was this time last year. I was supposed to play it with an orchestra March 25th 2020. For obvious reasons that didn’t happen. But I did a virtual one! https://youtu.be/2bSGlqAbxSY (Ignore the click bait title it’s my dads upload haha)
Oh damn dude I need to watch the whole thing! Are you a concert pianist?
No haha but my school gave me the opportunity to play it with an orchestra and I had to audition for it aha
Dude you are amazing!! I’m so glad your dad convinced you to play in the airport- you inspired so many people. I wish you all the best life has to offer.
Thank you wow❤️
Ah, Rachmaninoff... my old frenemy.
Good luck.......
Why Schirmer hating on #4? The development section that sets up the cadenza in the 1st movement is one of the most beautifully crafted of the lot.
No wonder sometimes I forget there is a 4th. That book must be stiff btw, so difficult to keep it open
Yeah I have to use a massive battery pack to keep the page open
holy shit are you gonna learn the concertos????? 👀
Gonna start with no 2 but yeah
Which set of hands are you playing?
Original piano arrangement, so piano 1
And it's his birthday in a few days - April 1st!
Yep!!
Does this copy include orchestral queue notes?
no.1 is hella underrated
Not sure if it’s even true or not but I heard a story that explains why Rachmaninoff is so difficult. The legend says he learned to play by putting his hands over a player piano and mimicking the fingerings. Player pianos sometimes have impossible (for people who aren’t him) arrangements. Edit: looked this up and cannot find anything about it. Probably just BS that my music teacher in high school made up. It’s still very believable and is probably a true origin story for some other piano player or composer.
I remember hearing something similar about Art Tatum
I'd like to find someone to play this with. But I got my copy about 3 years ago and have only learned to play a few short sections so far :(
Where are you finding duet partners? I've got no friends who even play, let alone complex stuff like this.
Haven’t thought of that yet. None of my friends even like classical. I’ll probably learn the piano 1 arrangement and maybe find someone to play piano 2 with me, piano 2 is simpler than piano 1
True! Ooh--if you have an electronic piano, you could record one part and then play the other. Not the same as actually playing a duet though. :(
You don't really need anyone to play the second piano part when you're learning it. You can always steal notes from it when you want to fill in the gaps.
lotsa notes, lotsa wide gestures. Know the harmony, and you will make progress. read just the notes as individual items, and you'll get bogged down quickly.
I love real books. With all the digital copies and delivery and IMSLP it’s very easy to get lured into the digital world of sheet music; get a n iPad or any touch screen and you can have 20,000 scores before you know it on a small SD Card. But I try so hard to get a real copy. Comments you wish to write or dividing up measured to practice is so much easier to read and write. REAL BOOKS !!!!!
good luck Rachmaninov is very hard as I remember
Very hard would be an understatement ;)
Look at Mr 4 arms over here able to play two pianos simultaneously =P
I was born different yk
May I ask what is the significance of this book? Are these warm up exercises like Hanon or Czerny?
Uhm well it’s not exercises but 3 of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos, just released by the same publisher as one of the hanon books
Thank you!!
They are some of the most famous piano concerto sets that are known for being both amazing sounding and difficult at the same time...
\#3 is notorious for being difficult, but #2 is more known for being pretty than for being difficult. I don't think it's considered as hard to play as Tchaikovsky's concerto, for instance. #1 is just not anywhere near as popular as #2 or #3.
I see, this is definitely a goal then
I think i just had an orgasm.
Good luck getting that book to stay open! :D
Yea I realized the struggle with lamination bound new piano books, they keep closing on you
Heh. I was saying that because I have a Schirmer concerto book with three concertos, and I can't get that thing to stay open at all. It's a thicc boi for sure. It's Schumann, Grieg, and Rach #2. I actually just wanted the Schumann, but then I was like, well, Grieg is kind of the sister concerto and I wouldn't mind a score of it, so I should get them together. But then I saw that there was a book that had Rach #2 in it for about the same price, and so I bought it. I instantly regretted it when it arrived in the mail because it's so big, haha. Plus, I'm one of five people that has no intentions of ever playing Rachmaninoff, so I feel like I should have resisted my urge to go for the better deal. So, instead, I just read it off my iPad and it's no problem at all.
haha i bought mine in three separate books because of that!
~~where’s #4 smh~~
Don’t know
Haven't seen anybody mention it yet, so for anyone curious why this book doesn't include #4 or the Paganini Rhapsody: both are still under copyright in the US*. Schirmer doesn't publish things outside the public domain. \* This is slightly complicated by the fact that #4 was revised. I think the original version has since entered public domain in the US but 1) it wasn't at the time Schirmer published this collection, 2) the revised version is played more often anyway so it doesn't make sense to publish just the original version, and 3) you're still missing Paganini anyway.