Sergey Rachmaninoff
Prelude
in C-sharp Minor, Op. 3 No. 2
from Morceaux de Fantaisie
The musical content of this immensely popular Prelude is actually really simple, but so far it hasn’t lost any of its massive effect!
Year: 1892
Period: Late Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Prelude Op. 3 No. 2 - FREE SAMPLE (mp3 file) 
"The Bells of Moscow"
It is tempting to describe this piece in terms of paradox: it sounds sensationally virtuosic and looks very difficult to play—both in terms of the score’s layout and in the gestures and movements required by the pianist—yet it by no means belongs to the most difficult piano repertoire, and is often approached and mastered by advanced amateur pianists. Its musical content is really simple and could perhaps even be called thin, but so far it hasn’t lost any of its massive effect, and promises to live on and speak as powerfully to future generations. The atmosphere of the first section may be likened to a solemn procession or ritual; in contrast, the chromatic sequential phrases in the second section (measures 14-42) are almost frantic. When the first theme returns, it is in “a mood of grandeur and power, as if illustrating the inevitable survival of some great and mighty truth” (Godowsky), but the Coda returns to the mysterious and reflective atmosphere - as if the question posed at the beginning is left unanswered after all.
“...One day the prelude simply came and I put it down. It came with such force that I could not shake it off even though I tried to do so. It had to be - so there it was”
Background
Rachmaninoff composed the Prelude in C-sharp minor in the late summer of 1892, at the age of 18, and first performed it at the Moscow Electric Exhibition in September of 1892. This was the beginning of the career of one of the world’s most popular piano pieces - it shortly became known simply as "The Prelude." Audiences would clamor for it by shouting "C-sharp minor!" while applauding other pieces, and even towards the end of Rachmaninoff’s career it was reported that no recital of his ever ended without this prelude as a final encore.Forum posts about this piece:
Help choosing a new piece around Henle level 6/7? How hard is Scriabin 12/2? by mooshrimp
I am having trouble getting excited about picking a new piece and was hoping for suggestions. I'm at the upper end of Henle 6, lower end of 7. Mostly I am having trouble wanting to play anything other than...
Recommendations? by cinsals
Hello! I am an intermediate pianist who is looking for a new piece to learn. My current most difficult piece is Rachmaninoff C# Minor prelude, and I'm looking for something a bit calmer. I do want to push...
Good pieces for a piano and violin chamber group by m1kes_
Good pieces for a piano and violin chamber group Hey guys! Next year I will be playing in a chamber with a violinist, and I'm trying to find repertoire that is challenging enough but not too difficult...
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I was wondering where I could get my recordings professionally done at and where I could get them published (CD wise)? I want to publish a CD called: A Trip Across the Pacific, with all sorts of...
What Chopin Piece should I learn? by galante
So next year (in a couple of days, lol), I am planning to have a project piece to be able to play it at the end of 2024. I have only been playing piano since the start of 2022, but I have progressed really...
"Easy" modern pieces by romanticperiod
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First Piano Concerto by adariation
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Piano Repertoire by adariation
Hello there, I am preparing an audition repertoire consisting of 2 pieces. I was searching for a piano piece that could show the softness of my playing, I will be playing that piece alongside...
What should i learn next? by hxzerrr
Hi everybody! I’m new to this forum. I’m a quite advanced piano studend. I need to start a new repertoire for this summer, any suggestions? The last pieces I’ve played are Chopin’s Etude Op.10 N.4,6 and...
Next step after Rachmaninov prelude in C-sharp minor by romanticperiod
Hi, I've nearly completed the prelude in C-sharp minor by Rachmaninov and I'm wondering what a good piece is to learn next. Does anyone know a piece that would be the next step up for my...
Tips for Rachmaninoff prelude in C minor by tiberiuszgo
Hi so I managed to play the first part of it in 2 days and slowly learning the next. They say that is impressive for a new piano player but I would like some tips to make it easier :) I am...
Chopin Pieces by zenyatt
I want to learn a Chopin piece that is close to my technical level, I've played the whole Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 8 (Pathetique), Rachmaninoff Prelude C-sharp minor. I've only played a couple of...
Tips for easy Rachmaninoff pieces that sound good? by slurred_beat
I want to play more Rachmaninoff but some of his pieces are very difficult. Do you have some tips for easy Rachmaninoff pieces that sound good? Maybe intermediate level, I have played the C sharp minor prelude....
This musicbasics guy on yt by urmother149
has anyone else seen this guy on their recommended because and i hate to sound too elitist but something just annoys me about him. he's basically garnered a cult following making these 5 levels of videos...
Dark Piano Pieces by chucksutton
Looking for some more dark piano pieces, something with a creepy vibe or heavy bass. Need recommendations. Something I always enjoyed playing was Scriabin prelude in C sharp minor (op 24 no 10).
Repertoire recommendations for intermediate-advanced student by fcb_havke
Hello, I am looking for suggestions on a new piece to play. I have just finished playing Rachmaninoff's prelude in C-Sharp minor op.3 no.2 I am looking for a piece either this level or harder...
What to learn after Rach C# Minor? by sparoz
I have just finished the prelude - not quite at concert standard yet and a bit of polishing to do, but my teacher wants a new piece. She suggested the G minor, but I am struggling to connect with the...
Why are pieces written in C# minor so popular? by roshankakiya123
Examples: Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 (played by Vladimir Horowitz): [YouTube]www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=wyF_lDaNGnY[/YouTube]
Voicing with the fourth finger by hovva
Hi everyone. This is my first post on an account made solely for this question: why can't I voice with my fourth finger? Specifically in the agitato section of Rachmaninoff's prelude in C# minor. My...
Members who like this piece have also downloaded:
This piece is composed by Sergey Rachmaninoff and was published in 1892. Title: Prelude, Op. 3 No. 2 in C-sharp Minor from Morceaux de Fantaisie. The difficulty level if graded by ABRSM would be approximately 8 and it belongs to the Late Romantic period.