Can you recognize Rachmaninoff by ear?
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) was a Russian composer and pianist, known for his Piano Concerto No. 2, the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and his preludes. In Guess the Composer, you hear up to 30 seconds of music and name the composer.
How to recognize Rachmaninoff
Listen for long, melancholy melodies over rich chords and a huge piano sound that spans the keyboard. Bell-like sonorities and slow-building waves of emotion are typical.
Who can Rachmaninoff be mistaken for?
Listeners may confuse this music with that of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alexander Scriabin or Franz Liszt.
How hard is Rachmaninoff in the game?
The game has up to 83 excerpts by Rachmaninoff, depending on your country, and most are at the Medium level.
Pieces you may hear
- Morceaux de fantaisie, op. 3
- Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18
- Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), in A minor, Op. 43
- 10 Preludes, op. 23
- 13 Preludes, op. 32
- Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30
- Symphony no. 2 in E minor, op. 27
- The Isle of the Dead, op. 29
Portrait: Kubey-Rembrandt Studios, Public domain; background removed.
