I've been a little obsessed with Rachmaninoff as of late.

I swear I've listened to the second movement from the 2nd Piano Concerto enough times now I can probably hum the entire melody by heart. There's also about a 12 second fragment from the ending to the first movement with a melody in the cello that is so gut-wrenchingly beautiful.

It's a healthy obsession, I swear. Listening to so many beautiful works has to be good for you in some form or other. Of course looking at the previous post on the Op.23, No.5 g-minor etude would also identify my obsession this week. It was a rather contrasting etude in respect to the others he wrote. So many of Rachmaninoff's etudes were guided by enchanting, near haunting melodies whereas the g-minor eluded from that form of melodic guidance by engaging us with its rhythmic vitality.

But not to be outdone by Rachmaninoff in the composition of the "etude" was Chopin. In fact, I was at a masterclass today for a good friend and one of her colleagues performed the Chopin etude in A-flat major Op.25, no.1, also known as the "Aeolian Harp" etude.



From the moment it begins you can immediately tell why it was tagged the "Aeolian Harp," by Robert Schumman nonetheless, who also commented on its "fantastic" arpeggios and a "wondrous" melody hidden within such grand embellishment. It is a truly challenging piece of work, requiring excellent wrist dexterity, quality for good tone and even balance through those enduring arpeggios.

A little on the performer, his name is Jonathan Cambry. He's studying at the Roosevelt Univ-Chicago College of Performing Arts in Chicago and he's been playing since he was 3 years old. That's all I really know about him, as it's all that I got from his YouTube channel.He unlike me, has uploaded videos of his playing, and it's incredible. His video of Chopin's Scherzo No.1, awesome!

Another work requiring a similar level of virtuosity, mind you most of Chopin's work requires it, is the Op.10, No.8 etude, commonly known as the "Ribbon," or "Sunshine" etude. Unlike the "Harp" etude, the Op.10, No.8 contains two very dissimilar ideas working together. The first is seen in the fluid movement of the right hand, which reaches a level of near kaleidoscopic proportions. The second is seen with the rather rhythmical and lyrical presence from the left hand. Together it blends perfectly, flowing together like a piece of ribbon in the wind or ray of sunshine, hence the nicknames.



The second etude in the video is the Op.10, No.5 "Black key"etude. With the exception of one note which is an F, the entirety of the piece is played on black notes. And of course I forgot to mention the magnificent Krystian Zimmerman is performing both of them.

They're all truly remarkable, and like all Chopin works, require that level of technical proficiency that will instantly allow anyone to understand what is happening. I might have chosen the wrong composer to idolize! I only say that when I'm learning one of his works.

Until then, back to Rachmaninoff's No.2 Concerto for awhile!