Sergei Rachmaninoff is one of the greatest Russian composer throughout the

history. His music is known for being very expressive with huge dynamics. It is clear
that his music has more enthusiasm than most of the composers from Europe, which
often get labeled as “Russian music” since Russian music tends to be more aggressive
than music from Germany or Italy. Some performers and theorists think of that way
and think that a lot of composition techniques are a typical music from Russia. For
example, in Meno Mosso (where the first time of 12 8 time signature) part of Piano
Sonata No.2, the harmony is quite unique and it brings color of the Russian music.
Also, people often interpret the complicated left hand accompanying arpeggio as the
cold wind blowing during the winter of Russia. All of these interpretations and
assumptions are basically from the history saying that Rachmaninoff really loves his
country. During the period he was in the United States, he only composed six new
pieces because he couldn’t compose without going back to Russia. “I left behind my
desire to compose: losing my country, I lost myself also,” he said, showing that he
missed Russia. However, does that really mean he is so influenced by Russia that he
got all his inspirations from relating to Russia? The harmonies, melodies, textures,
and structures of his pieces are basically from ordinary romantic era composers from
Europe, adding with his personal expressiveness of the desperation from self-
identification.

1. Off-Tonic Culmination in Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

It is about how he shapes his music to outline the whole composition. Although the
arriving points sometimes go to a different direction than romantic music, it shares
the same dynamic shape in a larger scale.

2. Creativity and Mental Illness: Richard Kogan on Rachmaninoff

His works thrive after his serious depression since he is the kind of person who need
compliments and recognition from others to feel good about his music. It turns out
to be very different in terms of quality and quantity at different stages of his life due
to the environment and the people around him.

3. Rachmaninoff and scriabin: Creativity and suffering in talent and genius

Rachmaninoff is recognized as one of the most talented composer. However, that
brings him a serious depression because he cannot handle criticism once he has an
failure experience from his premiere of Symphony No.1. This causes him that his
music is often being gloomy, depressed, but aggressive.
4. Rachmaninoff's emotional collapse and recovery: The first symphony and its
aftermath
It provides a more in depth of what happened during his breakdown. Similar to 2.

5. Nineteenth-Century Music?? The Case of Rachmaninov

It is about the transformation of Rachmaninoff that it has changed significantly since
his Piano Concerto No.2, which is still in the style of late romantic.