Canon
Where to start with Rachmaninoff
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralPiano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18
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Keyboard10 Preludes, op. 23
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ChamberCello Sonata in G minor, op. 19
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Vocal12 Songs, op. 14
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StageAleko TN ii/70 — Opera
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OrchestralRhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, op. 43
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KeyboardEtudes-tableaux, op. 39
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KeyboardMorceaux de fantaisie, op. 3
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OrchestralPiano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30
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KeyboardSuite no. 2 for 2 Pianos, op. 17
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OrchestralSymphonic Dances, op. 45
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OrchestralSymphony no. 2 in E minor, op. 27
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OrchestralThe Isle of the Dead, op. 29 — Symphonic poem
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Vocal12 Songs, op. 21
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Keyboard13 Preludes, op. 32
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Rachmaninoff's catalogueMost Popular
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Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
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Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
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Symphony No. 2 in E minor
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Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor
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Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14
Most Acclaimed
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Piano Concerto No. 3
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Vespers (All-Night Vigil) Op. 37
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The Bells (choral symphony)
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Symphonic Dances
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Études-tableaux Op. 39
Most Weird
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Symphonic Danceshis last orchestral work — dark, self-quoting, includes the Dies Irae and quotes from his own earlier works; written age 67 in American exile
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The Isle of the Deadtone poem after Böcklin’s painting — the 5/8 rocking is inexorable, like oars on water
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Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minororiginal 1913 version vs. 1931 revision — completely different pieces; the original is more extreme
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Études-tableaux Op. 39picture études — each depicts a scene; the E-flat minor is the most terrifying thing he wrote for piano
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Vocalisea song without words or text — just vowel sounds; the original is for voice and piano; works for any melodic instrument
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 123
- Orchestral
- ● Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18
- ● Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, op. 43
- Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, op. 30
- Symphonic Dances, op. 45
- Symphony no. 2 in E minor, op. 27
- The Isle of the Dead, op. 29 — Symphonic poem
- 5 Études-tableaux,
- Capriccio on Gypsy Themes, op. 12
- Piano Concerto no. 1 in F sharp minor, op. 1
- Piano Concerto no. 4 in G minor, op. 40
- Prince Rostislav, TN ii/44 — Symphonic poem
- Scherzo in D minor, TN ii/40
- Suite for in D minor
- Symphony in D minor, "Youth"
- Symphony no. 3 in A minor, op. 44
- Utyos, op. 7
- Keyboard
- 10 Preludes, op. 23
- Etudes-tableaux, op. 39
- Morceaux de fantaisie, op. 3
- Suite no. 2 for 2 Pianos, op. 17
- 13 Preludes, op. 32
- 2 Pieces for Piano 6-Hands, TN ii/22
- 2 Pieces, TN ii/17
- 3 Nocturnes, TN ii/13
- 3 Pieces, TN ii/19
- 4 Piano Pieces
- 4 Pieces, TN ii/12
- 6 Duets for Piano 4-Hands, op. 11
- 6 Moments musicaux, op. 16
- Bach: Prelude, Gavotte, and Gigue from Partita in E for Solo Violin, TN iii/1
- Behr: Lachtaubchen, op. 303, "Polka de WR"
- Bizet: Minuet from L'Arlesienne-Suite no. 1, TN iii/3
- Canon in D minor, TN ii/14
- Canon in E minor
- Chopin: Variations on a Theme by Chopin, op. 22
- Etude-tableaux Op.33
- Four Pieces
- Fughetta in F
- Fugue in D minor
- Kreisler: Liebesfreud
- Kreisler: Liebesleid
- Lento in D minor, TN ii/11
- Liszt: Cadenza on Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2, TN iii/6
- Morceau de Fantaisie in G minor, "Delmo"
- Morceaux de salon, op. 10
- Mussorgsky: Hopak from opera 'Sorochintsy Fair', TN iii/8
- Nyne otpushchayeshi
- Paganini: Variation no. 18 Andante cantabile
- Piano Piece in A flat major
- Piano Piece in D minor
- Piano Sonata no. 1 in D minor, op. 28
- Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36
- Polka in A flat major, TN ii/18
- Polka italienne, for piano 4-Hands in E flat minor/E flat major, TN ii/21
- Prélude in F major, TN ii/15
- Romance in E flat major
- Romance in G for Piano 4-Hands, TN ii/20
- Russian Rhapsody, for 2 pianos in E minor, TN ii/23
- Schubert: Wohin? from Die Schöne Müllerin, TN iii/10
- Smith: The Star-Spangled Banner, TN iii/11
- Song without words in D minor
- Suite no. 1 for 2 pianos in G minor, op. 5, "Fantaisie-tableaux"
- Tchaikovsky: Lullaby, op. 16, no. 1
- Three Nocturnes
- Variations on a Theme by Corelli, op. 42
- Chamber
- Cello Sonata in G minor, op. 19
- 2 Pieces for Cello and Piano, op. 2
- 2 Pieces for Violin and Piano, op. 6
- Elegy, for violin, cello, and piano
- Lied in F minor, for cello and piano
- Melodie on a Theme by S. Rachmaninov, for cello and piano in D major, TN ii/33
- Melody, Paraphrase from Op.21, no. 7 and Op.26, no. 8,, "How peaceful;' 'I beg for mercy"
- String Quartet
- String Quartet no. 1 in G minor
- Trio élégiaque, for piano and strings in D minor, op. 9
- Trio élégiaque, for piano and strings in G minor, TN ii/34
- Vocal
- 12 Songs, op. 14
- 12 Songs, op. 21
- 14 Songs, op. 34
- 15 Songs, op. 26
- 3 Russian Songs, for chorus and orchestra, op. 41
- 6 Choruses for Female or Children's Chorus and Piano, op. 15
- 6 Songs, op. 38
- 6 Songs, op. 4
- 6 Songs, op. 8
- Again you leapt, my heart, TN ii/51 — Song
- All glory to God — Song
- All things wish to sing, TN ii/58/2 — Song
- At the gate of the Holy Abode, TN ii/50/1 — Song
- Blagoslovi dushe moya Gospoda, for chorus
- Bogoroditse devo, radouisya, for chorus
- By The Gates Of The Holy Dwelling
- C'était en avril, TN ii/52/1 — Song
- Dnes spasenie, for chorus
- Do you remember the evening?, TN ii/53/3 — Song
- Don Juan, for chorus and piano, TN ii/62
- From the Gospel of St John, TN ii/57 — Song
- Hail, O Virgin, Birth-Giver of God
- I shall tell you nothing, TN ii/50/2 — Song
- It's so wonderful here
- Letter to K. S. Stanislavsky, TN ii/56 — Song
- Neither the Tomb, nor Death
- Night, TN ii/55 — Song
- O Mother of God, Vigilantly Praying
- O, Thou Billowy Harvest Field — Song
- Panteley the Healer, for chorus, TN ii/63
- Powder and Paint
- Prayer, TN ii/58/1 — Song
- Slavoslovie velikoe, for chorus
- Song of the Disillusioned, TN ii/53/1 — Song
- The Bells, choral symphony for soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus, and orchestra, op. 35
- The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, op. 31
- The Spring, cantata for baritone, chorus and orchestra, op. 20
- The flower has faded, TN ii/53/2 — Song
- Twilight has fallen, TN ii/52/2 — Song
- Uvyal tsvetok, for voice and piano
- Vespers, for alto, tenor, and chorus, op. 37
- We Praise Thee
- Were You Hiccoughing? TN ii/54
- Stage
- Aleko TN ii/70 — Opera
- Francesca da Rimini Op.25 — Opera
- Monna Vanna, opera, TN ii/71
- The Miserly Knight Op.24 — Opera