Exposition

Interpreting Rachmaninoff’s Second Sonata informed by recordings of his own works (2022)

Tigla Janaporn
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open exposition

About this exposition

Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No.2 Op.36 is regarded as one of the most complex solo piano works. Struggling to interpret this piece, I wanted to explore ways in which I could enrich my interpretation and find further possibilities for interpreting Rachmaninoff’s Second Sonata. I did this primarily by diving into Rachmaninoff’s performance practice by analyzing how he performed his own pieces. His playing is quite different from how modern pianists usually play. Most notably, his use of tempo flexibility, alteration of rhythm, as well as the use of dislocation and arpeggio. All of these expressive devices are prominent elements of his style of playing, which can be also traced back to 19th-century performance treatises. After analysis and gaining insights into the elements of Rachmaninoff’s performance style, I experimented with these elements in Piano Sonata No.2, trying to incorporate some of these in my performance. This process of experimenting helped me understand the piece from a different perspective and opened me to look for much more possibilities and freedom in interpreting the piece. I hope this research can inspire pianists who want to explore more interpretative possibilities, not only of his Piano Sonata No.2 but his piano music in general.
typeresearch exposition
keywordsSergei Rachmaninoff, Art of Interpretation, Piano, Russian Music, Performance Practice, 19th Century, performance practice
date19/11/2021
published11/07/2022
last modified11/07/2022
statuslimited publication
share statusshared in portal(s):
copyrightTigla Janaporn
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
urlhttps://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/1428230/1428231
published inKC Research Portal
portal issue3. Internal publication


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1524363 Etude-tableau, Op.39 No.6 bar 6-11 RCA All rights reserved
1524368 Etude-tableau, Op.39 No.6 Bar 81-84 RCA All rights reserved
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1524388 Prelude Op. 23, No.10 Bar 11-18 RCA All rights reserved
1524391 Prelude Op. 23, No.10 Bar 32-33 RCA All rights reserved
1524398 Prelude Op. 23, No.10 Bar 35-36 RCA All rights reserved
1524402 Prelude Op. 23, No.10 Bar 40-45 RCA All rights reserved
1524408 Prelude Op.3 No.2 Bar 15-18 RCA All rights reserved
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1524414 Prelude Op.3 No.2 Bar 33-46 RCA All rights reserved
1524419 Prelude Op.23 No.5 Bar 1-2 RCA All rights reserved
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1524446 Prelude Op.32 No.12 Bar 10 RCA All rights reserved
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1524607 Movt 1 bar 1-10 Experiment TIgla Janaporn CC BY-NC-ND
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1531119 Movt 3 Bar 55-61 Second Beat Tigla J. All rights reserved
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1543601 Movt.3 Bars 55-65 prolonged tenuto Tigla J. All rights reserved

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