“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian pianist, composer and conductor. He is considered the last romantic among the great Russian composers. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all his magnificent works today!
Unfortunately, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s childhood cannot be described as a particularly happy one. He was born into a wealthy aristocratic family, whose fortunes were soon dashed by his father’s decadent and debauched lifestyle, squandering all their money on mistresses and gambling. After his parents separated, the boy was sent to live with his grandmother, who recognised and nurtured his musical talents. At the age of nine, he joined the St. Petersburg Conservatoire. Despite his brilliant piano technique, and great musical talent, Rachmaninoff did not thrive at school, and was eventually sent off to Moscow, where he studied under the excellent teacher, Nikolai Zverev. It was in Moscow, that Rachmaninoff first began composing.
At the end of the 1890s, the young Rachmaninoff suffered two cruel turns of fate, both his close friend Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his teacher Nikolai Zverev died. His 1st Symphony premiered in 1897, and although it was conducted by Alexander Glazunov, the performance was so lacking, that Rachmaninoff couldn’t bear to listen to any more, got up, and left the auditorium well before the end of the piece. The work was mercilessly slammed by the critics, and Rachmaninoff suffered a nervous breakdown. In the following three years, Rachmaninoff struggled to even pick up his quill.
It was not until after 1901 that Rachmaninoff finally turned back to music. He began to work as a conductor in Moscow, and slowly began to travel and perform again, first through Europe, and then the United States as a pianist and conductor. Soon however, the political situation in Russia became so dire, that in 1917, Rachmaninoff and his entire family bade a sad farewell to their homeland, never to return. They emigrated first to Scandinavia, and then in 1918, to America. He spent the final years of his life in the US and Switzerland, where he found peace in his villa, where he would retire after exhausting concert tours.
Stylistically, Sergei Rachmaninoff belongs to neo-romanticists, although his ideas were very original. His works are richly nationalistic, and encapture the essence of the Russian folk tradition. Rachmaninov was inspired by the typically Russian, expressive, romantic motifs and melodies of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Today, it is still possible to find recordings of Rachmaninoff’s piano playing; one can sit back, and admire his remarkable interpretive and expressive skills, and one can gain an insight into the composer’s inner thoughts, as he masterfully navigates his own magnificent works.
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 664941
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 664772
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 864235
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1591218
On a Theme of Paganini
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score
Item no.: 963257
Walton Choral
for: SSA, Piano and Cello
Choir score
Item no.: 984587
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 864533
From All-Night Vigil
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 766494
Pavane Choral
for: Women's Choir [SSAA]
Choir score
Item no.: 1168350
On a Theme of Paganini
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 963258
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1379654
O gladsome radiance
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866727
In that we have beheld the Resurrection of Christ
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866657
Praise the Name of the Lord
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866624
When Thou hadst risen again
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866689
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1591217
Bless the Lord, O my soul
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866639
From All-Night Vigil
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1112704
Verses before the Six Psalms
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866650
Blessed is the man
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866611
Today is Salvation
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866714
The Great Doxology
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866674
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866619
Rejoice, O Virgin
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866697
To Thee, the victorious Leader
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866720
O come, let us worship
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866664
Blessed art Thou, O Lord
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 866632
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1380331
op. 45
for: Orgel (2 Spieler)
Item no.: 648489
Score
Item no.: 638278
Score
Item no.: 638281
Score
Item no.: 638291
Score
Item no.: 638260
Score
Item no.: 638236
Nyne otpuschtschajeschi
Ganznächtliche Vesper
for: Coro SSAATTBB, [Pfte for rehearsal only]
Score
Item no.: 638381
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 736149
op. 34/14
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 741605
op. 26/12
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 757197
op. 21/7
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 757196
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 641624
for: Voice, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1202455
for: Voice, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1202456
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1202453
für 8 Blechbläser (Ensemble) Partitur und Stimmen
for: Brass ensemble
Item no.: 644196
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1591215
Easy Music For Strings
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 806517
Opus 3, 23 and 32
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 898976
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1591251