Sergey Rachmaninoff
Élégie
in E-flat Minor, Op. 3 No. 1
from Morceaux de Fantaisie
Quietly mournful, but with a grand climax appearing in the middle, the Élégie remains characteristically Rachmaninoffian throughout.
Year: 1892
Period: Late Romantic
Piano score: Scanned score 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Lament with a Grand Russian Climax
A heavy sense of pathos runs through the Élégie in E flat minor, underlining what is already suggested by its title – an elegy often serving as a lament for the dead. The quietly mournful beginning, with its lonely melody singing over left-hand arpeggios spanning multiple octaves, is evocative of the Nocturnes written by Chopin, whom Rachmaninoff admired. Nevertheless, the piece remains characteristically Rachmaninoffian throughout, with bell-like sonorities and a grand, distinctly Russian climax appearing during the middle of the piece.Though challenging, the piece is approachable for amateur pianists of some skill. A powerful interpretation makes full use of the dynamic contrasts between the piece’s different sections as well as between the right and left hand, as indicated by the composer.
Background
The légie is the first of the five pieces of the Morceaux de fantaisie Op. 3, which also includes the famous Prelude in C sharp minor Op. 3 no. 2. The set was composed in 1892 when Rachmaninoff was 19 years old (the same year he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory) and was dedicated to Anton Arensky, his harmony teacher.Forum posts about this piece:
Pieces with dramatic climaxes by tenpasten
Hi guys, I’m new to this forum and would love some suggestions for pieces with loud and intense climaxes. To give you an idea of what I’m looking for, rachs Etude tableaux 39/5’s return of the a section...
Rachmaninoff Elégie: Overlapping Hands by devbanana
I'm working through the Elégie by Rachmaninoff, Op 3 no 1. Most of it hasn't been that bad, but there's a part towards the end that's giving me some difficulty. In my music...
What to play? by artlin02
Hi! After summer (2018) I'm starting the swedish equivalent of high school, and since I live in the city I've got like 50 ones to chose from and just discovered that there's a music/piano one...
Which piece to chose by artlin02
Hi, I'm new on pianosteet. I've resently played Elegy (Rachmaninov) and Grande Valse Brillante (Chopin). Now looking for a new piece. Have always wanted to play Chopin nocturne op.27 no.2 or if...
Rachmaninoff Elegy - fingering in second section by mozart27
Hey guys so actually I am practising Rachmaninoff Elegy Op.3 No.1 and I was thinking about fingering at the third page that part when completely new theme and music coming ( you will recognise in picture ) So...
Should I stop taking piano lessons? I've lost motivation and teacher problem. by schnitzel
Hello! I'm almost 19 years old and I play for four years on piano (And I used to play as a child). I'm currently learning Rachmaninoff's elegie and Prokofiev's Peter and the wolf (and also...
Rachmaninovs Elegy by andrea7
Hi! I fell in love with this piece, but i can´t find sheet music with fingering, it takes a long time for me to find good fingering, does anybody have sheets with fingering? Thanks =)...
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Sergey Rachmaninoff, who was one of the prominent composers active in the Late Romantic era, wrote this piece titled "Elégie"Op. 3 No. 1 in E-flat Minor from Morceaux de Fantaisie. The composition is categorized as "Piece" in the sheet music library and the level of difficulty in the piano music database is 8.