Rachmaninoff: Liebesleid, "Love's Sorrow" // RACHMANINOFF

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While this is called a transcription, it exhibits more of Rachmaninov's style than it does of Kreisler's. For one thing, Rachmaninov fashioned his own opening material and provided an imaginative coda. In between the themes, while still carrying the flavours of Kreisler, are harmonies whose embellishments or outright alterations change the character of the music so substantially that it almost sounds like a fantasy piece based on Kreisler's melodies. Moreover, Rachmaninov makes the work far more challenging to the pianist here than Kreisler's original was for violinists. The piece opens with a brief introduction, after which the charming, graceful theme is presented as an interesting mixture of Viennese dance music and Russian nostalgia. The melody soon takes on a more robust manner, the mood turning vigorous and playful. That latter characteristic blossoms in the next, more delicate and gossamer section, feathery runs accompanying the charming melody. The piano writing grows a bit more challenging in the succeeding passages, the music mixing vigour with humour and menace and ethereality with fleet-fingered passage work. The ending paints several coats of the latter on the colourful musical canvas, deftly punctuating this five-minute masterpiece.
(source: Robert Cummings, Allmusic)

Performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff
(Ampico roll)