Rachmaninoff -- 10 Selected Piano Works: Book & CD (Alfred Masterwork CD Edition)

Lovely piano compositions, and CD to match.

Perfect!

It has Flight of the Bumblebee in the Rachmaninoff version which I couldn't find in any other Rachmaninoff version.

I bought this book for two pieces: "Prelude" and the "Flight of the Bumble Bee" interpretation by Rachmaninoff. What is most helpful is the CD that comes with it. I know how the pieces should sound. Priced well for what I received, and I especially appreciate the CD.

AWESOME dude!

Great edition. Includes pieces that I don't have time for, but half I can read. pgs

Very good book, my son loves it.

Rachmaninoff's music should be in every pianist's repertoire. Although he also composed choral works, chamber music, and opera, Rachmaninoff will always be best remembered for his solo piano works. The works in this book span from all periods of his career. If you are a piano student this book will be an excellent edition for your classes and is also accepted at piano competitions. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are at least at a level 7 or higher as all the pieces are Late Intermediate to Early Advanced. The first piece is called:1) United Composition, Op. posth: The untitled composition is often given the name prelude. Full of dark harmonies and expressive melodic material, it embodies a typical Russian expression of pain and anguish.2)Morceau de fantasie: Technical study for the right hand.3) Flight of the Bumble Bee (Transcription of Rimsky Korsakov): One of the most famous transcriptions for the piano. This ingenius transcription contains a busy whirl of rapid scales portraying a bee buzzing.4) Elegie Op. 3 No. 1: My favorite Rachmaninoff song. Elegie contains the dark, brooding intensity he became famous for. Lush harmonies and long soaring lines with sweeping arpeggios.5) Prelude, Op.3 No. 2 (Bells of Moscow): Undisputed Rachmaninoff's most famous single piano work.6) Polichinelle, Op.3 No.4: The title translates as Punch. The piece contains extremely wide ranges of dynamics, which help convey the boisterous quality of the writing.7) Nocturne Op. 10 No. 1: Nocturne has a number of resemblances to the noctrnes of Chopin. One example is the similiar left hand pattern in Chopin's Nocturne Op. 55 No.1, containing long phrase lines set against the harmonises. This piece is a great introduction to Rach's wonderful treatment of melody.8) Humoresque Op. 10 No. 5 (second edition): Is more sophisticated than the first and contains touches of harmonic color that gives the piece more originality. The title means a humorous or whimsical mood.9) Romance Op. 10 No. 6: Is very similar to the Nocturne above. Much of the writing is in legato (four or five note harmony).10) Moment Musical Op. 16 No. 5: Rach wrote sex moment musicals, this being the most beautiful of the set. It is in Adagio, which gives it a tender and sensuous quality.I must add that I think it is wonderful that the Alfred Edition is coming out with thise book sets with the full length cd included. Listening to a good interpretaion is very helpful when learning and practicing a new piece of music.