RACHMANINOFF'S Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 18th Variation: the most SUBLIME theme ever written!

Soul soaring! That's Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 18th Variation. But WHY is it so special? What did Rachmaninoff do to make that theme so transcendent? Grammy-nominated pianist Dr. Duane Hulbert examines this gorgeous variation and gives a few insights into Rachmaninoff's techniques.

Note flipping: 3:10
Key changing: 3:26
Andante section: 4:45
Triplets/16ths: 5:30
Climax chord: 5:45
Orchestra/piano back-and-forth: 6:32
BIG CHORDS!: 7:15
Variation ending: 7:43
Finding the way home: 8:20
Breaking the trance: 9:19
Surprise ending: 9:40

Duane plays the entire variation at 10:35.

By the way: Rachmaninoff himself played the premiere of the Rhapsody with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski in Baltimore, Maryland on November 7, 1934.

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Thanks for watching!

[gatoreuph]

I have always found this to be one of the most heart-breakingly beautiful melodies in all of classical music. Thanks for helping me understand why.

[SEkSkapela]

your channel is something I was searching for, I love when people talks inteligently about music they play

[pchabanowich]

To invert the first theme, which could be quick, and find a new key for it, and lavish us with a melody poignantly ravishing is the signature of his genius. 💐

[ssl.]

Thank you for this video.. for the background and the education on the piece. I just started this yesterday.. looking for a greater understanding of the piece. Your video (and much appreciated work) have provided me with a much better understanding and a deeper appreciation for this masterpiece!

[marcandrehuberdeau]

This video makes my day. I have known this piece for decades and I always wondered what was the relation of this theme to Paganini's. Now I get it.
I have been listening to the Rhapsody for about four weeks now, as often as I can. (Including the Cameron Carpenter version). Thanks you.

[virginiam]

Thank you so much! You are both a gifted musician and a gifted educator.

[gesundheit]

Rachmaninoff feeds my soul! 🙂 Singer/songwriter Eric Carmen passed recently and I was listening to his song “All By Myself, ” which was a big hit for him and also later for Celine Dion. Eric based the verse on the second movement (Adagio sostenuto) of Rachmaninoff's 1900–1901 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18. Eric also had another very successful song called “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” and he based the melody on the third movement (Adagio) from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. It just goes to show you how timeless music is and how these amazing works from long ago can inspire new songs even today.

[mariapap]

Rachmaninoff is by far my favourite composer! Currently learning this so this video is very useful right now. Thank you!

[mefirst]

Those huge beautiful chords without the orchestra are amazing. I can see someone just improvising with those alone. Very nice breakdown tutorial.

[mangomerkel]

This theme was the main theme of me and my ex-girlfriend...
She loved it so much! That's why I learned it for her and gave her the sheet music I used (including remarks I did).
I hope she cherishes this present I gave to her. I hope.

[Eric-jouh]

Enjoyed your enlightening explanation, so love this piece of music.Thank you very much.

[veot.]

Wonderful, beautiful and enchanting. So many times I have heard this piece and I just am not satisfied. I want more of the beauty and the harmony from the piano and the orchestra. The wonderment of a musician never ceases to amaze me. It inspires me to get back at it.

[lisacalgary]

I love your passion and analysis. This insight is so valuable as a pianist and as a listener. Thank you!

[eggizgud]

Yes, love your analysis and this variation, of course. Genius composition.

But I also love the transitionary passage introducing this one, arguably more beautiful? How he brings us from the intensity of the previous variation, slowing down our expectations, with so many teasers, and then the revelation at the end of it is like heaven.

[eamonryan]

My favourite music, from when I was fourteen, sixty years ago.

[vicsheilahartley]

What a brilliant demonstration of this masterpiece and how the transition moves between Am and Db. I didn’t realise that the Am variation (which used to be the theme for an Arts programme on UK television) was connected to the romantic Db version until your explanation. Bravo and thank you! Vic Whitchurch England.

[ms.annthrope]

What brilliant insight. Thank you for the education.

[gracecotton]

Thank you very much for playing this through for us. It was the first time I had heard this being played without an orchestra.

[mavisching]

I'm rewatching this excellent video, and feeling thankful for your labour of love, Dr Hulbert.
There hasn't been a post for several months. Hoping that all is well.
Christmas Cheer and Blessings to you and your loved ones.

[JakeYeung]

Wow I've heard of this tune for so long, but this is the first time I saw the connection with Paginin's A minor theme...