Rakhmaninov S. Vocalise. Polka W. R.

You are welcome to come across the pieces by Sergei Vasilyevich Rakhmaninov, i.e. the “Vocalise” and “Polka W. R.” arranged for two pianos.

The “Vocalise” is dedicated to the distinguished Russian singer Antonina Nezhdanova, having been its first performer. There was also made the orchestra version by the author himself. The première was such a great success, that soon Rakhmaninov's arrangements for different instruments started to appear.

The “Polka” entered the concert repertoire of S. V. Rakhmaninov, V. Gorovits and other distinguished pianists. The title “Polka W. R.” was invented by Rakhmaninov himself, being sure the piece belonged to his father's hand. Vasily Arkadyevich Rakhmaninov used to perform the polka at home surrounded by his family. This circumstance must have misled the composer. Meanwhile Rakhmaninov made the transcription of the polka “La Rieuse. Polka Badine” op. 303 by Ferdinand Beyer (1803–1863), having been known as the author of the “Piano School”. The music of F. Beyer's Polka was published in two volumes “Reminiscences About Rakhmaninov” (Muzyka, Moscow, 1988, edition 5, supplemented).

Working at my own transcriptions for piano I was looking forward to facilitate their technique, thus attracting executants of different levels. I tried to adhere to the autograph as much as possible; however, it was necessary to inscribe some separate parts for the piano ensemble to sound expressively and bright.

Andrey Ovsyannikov