The Rachmaninoff Climax Trick

Check out Rachmaninoff's unique trick to make the apex of his phrases "pop." This video explores the trick and detail and provides notable examples. Be sure to add this trick to your arsenal.
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[@mangomerkel2005]

I see Rachmaninoff. I click.

[@sean-kb4wr]

Exactly what I thought about when i clicked the video

[@BrandonTohpianist]

a simple man!

[@louisgari4294]

If it's rach it's good

[@mangomerkel2005]

@@louisgari4294 Exactly!

[@DynastieArtistique]

Based

[@quain5063]

I played Op.23 No.4 and I love its texture so much. And the Tristan chord at the end ofc, chef's kiss.

[@erichetherington9314]

"ofc, chef's kiss"?? Whaaa?
What's OFC? Oklahoma Fried Chicken? : )

[@Telkin96]

@@erichetherington9314 "of course" ;)

[@ArgoBeats]

He was a Master in subverting expectations.

[@pabloansonmusic]

I love this technique. You can find many instances of "Melodic Highpoint Reharmonization" in older and newer music, for instance:
Allegri, Miserere
Beeth. 9th, IV, Zu Gott
Barber, Adagio for Strings
Williams, Hedwig's Theme, climax of the continuation phrase (G min)
and, of course, in Celine Dion's version of All By Myself, with its reharmonization of the b6 as a major 3rd at the onset of the drop wich seems, after watching this video, particularly pertinent ;)

[@guylevinberg1093]

Well all by myself IS Rachmaninoff's harmony

[@pabloansonmusic]

@@guylevinberg1093 Indeed, hence the comment :) Although I have to confess I would have to listen to the whole movement again in order to check if he has anything similar to the SLIDE progression of the Dion version (the Eb becoming a D# kind of trick). The "original" by Carmen doesn't have it, that I know.

[@PianoBuffs]

Been wondering about that ending of the 3rd concerto for many years. That triple fff chord is just insane!

[@AndersTornqvistsvedbergh]

wife: why have you brought the stereo to the bedroom
me: you will understand

[@i.ehrenfest349]

Did she?

[@AndersTornqvistsvedbergh]

yes@@i.ehrenfest349

[@pmichael73]

Thank you for this. I think it is arguable that the climax is not always "the point." in the Piano Concerto No. 3, I suggest the point is that breath-taking, quiet statement of the solo piano that precedes the gallop to the climax.

[@kguy152000]

Op. 23, No. 1, mm. 13- 24 is a wonderful example of the tension and build to the "point" - rapturous and poetic.

[@meis18mofo77]

Sick dubstep tutorial, I'll try this on my next drop :3

[@i.ehrenfest349]

I wonder…what…do these words mean?

[@halflearned2190]

Fascinating!

[@mymatemartin]

Fantastic video. I could have listened and learned for hours . Marvellous insight to this musical genius.

[@michaeltilley8708]

Interesting also how he approaches the Eb major through a descending sequence of minor chords outlining an augmented triad, ala Slonimsky /Giant Steps

[@ThatOneGuyRAR]

Great video! Unrelated, I think the climax in the third movement of the cello sonata comes with the really low note in the b section in the cello, you know the one, but without relistening I’m not sure it follows the pattern as much.

[@bigpapadrew]

rachmaninoff's wife was a big fan of this trick ;)

[@rosie5762]

Such a great video! Thank you!

[@stuartdryer1352]

My favorite classical composer for this very reason. His 2 nd Piano Concerto especially.

[@violinwritten]

underated video

[@balladin9200]

If only I can use my fingers to climax without the piano, rachwomaniniser please teach me

[@dubious_potat4587]

LMAO

[@RaptorT1V]

OH MY GOD

[@erichetherington9314]

Easy. Just lie INSIDE a grand piano in a certain position....

[@mr.sellpresents7826]

At work, making sure no one looks over my shoulder for the title.

[@musicfreak21]

The Neapolitan lift !

[@musical_lolu4811]

I find the term 'trick' somewhat belittling when describing these devices.

[@goldfieldfireworks7352]

Love Rachmaninoff 's mood swings.

[@mckernan603]

Also that the unrelated key contains a chromatic step in the bass towards the V chord

[@blakebradley829]

Was not expecting this to be about music but I’ll watch nonetheless

[@j1o2h3n3d2oe]

OMG It is amazing

[@Dylonely42]

Interesting.

[@most_sane_piano_enthusiast]

very suspicious wording

[@Classicalmusicscores1984]

I like Rachmaninoff

[@mckernan603]

Beethoven also knew this trick, see his op 80

[@juwonnnnn]

👌

[@needtoknowbasis3499]

I think there's more going on than a willy nilly neat trick. Rachmaninoff is not so cheap.

[@isaacvandermerwe744]

Who is the pianist at 4:35? I feel they miss 'the point' somewhat - it doesn't quite have the weight it deserves

[@i.ehrenfest349]

One Ian Hobson. Without meaning to be unkind, perhaps not the best Rachmaninov interpreter.

[@LuisKolodin]

"melodic composer"? someone did not listen to most of his works! despite some few tunes, he usually work with timbre/color development and the absenceor not remarkable melodies. his Op23/5 for instance... the outer sections just sound like harmonic introduction to a main tune that never comes.

[@samaritan29]

be that as it may - his most famous large scale works (PC2, PC3, Paganini Var, Symphony 2) are most popular for their crazily lyrical sections in a "Here Comes The Big Melody" sort of way ;)

[@LuisKolodin]

@@samaritan29 you see that paganini variations has NO MELODY, except var 18. It's really not Rach style. People who listen to tunes don't appreciate the whole work. And to me PC3 has no remarkable tune, it's just a great of example of him as color development. Second symphony outer movements are without tune too.

[@samaritan29]

@@LuisKolodin "to me PC3 has no remarkable tune" "Second symphony outer movements are without tune too" -- I think u need to re-listen...

[@pablofeynman3619]

The what now ?

[@ccbcco]

Ummmm . . . octaves?

[@nloc1929]

Ummmm . . . double octaves?

[@toastedbutter9760]

…. chords within octaves?

[@wesleycolemanmusic]

... octaves within chords?

[@justintimetoclashandbrawl3348]

Chords with chords?

[@kaspianocz6330]

THIS is ai generated notification, please give it a like xd

[@erichetherington9314]

What's with the gutteral pronunciation of the "r" "Rachmaninoff"? Can't be sure if speaker is a native English speaker, but you'll notice she doesn't pronounce any other "r's" like that. Seem odd, if not pretentious.

[@stratisoundinc]

You were correct; the narrator is a native German speaker and speaks English as a second language.

[@erichetherington9314]

@@stratisoundinc Yes, but he doesn't pronounce any of the other 'R's in his narration like that.

[@6894q]

@@erichetherington9314 I often hear German people pronounce Rachmaninoff like that. Maybe it’s just a German thing

[@erichetherington9314]

@@6894q That's not what I mean. If he has an accent, fine. It's just that no other "R's are pronounced like that in the clip.

[@erichetherington9314]

@@6894q "Like His predecessor Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff was incredibly assertive. " If you listen to that phrase, it's tough to hear a German accent in any of the words. It's possible the narrator grew up in thee US with a German family or community, but none of the othr words reveal a German accent.

[@needtoknowbasis3499]

I hate these kinds of videos. Is Rachmaninoff the new miracle diet plan that doctors don't want you to know about?

[@lautarotrefilio4773]

always was

[@RaptorT1V]

any problem ?)

[@loren8888]

What are you rambling about? This is an informative video on "the point". I found it interesting and hadn't thought about it before with Rachmaninoffs pieces