Vocalise (piano duet)

Details

“Vocalise,” Op. 34, No. 14 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, arranged for one piano, four hands by Greg Anderson / Full score / Difficulty: Intermediate-advanced / Duration: 7 mins / Pages: 10 / Copyright: 2009 / Work number: 039.1 / Appears on the album When Words Fade / Spotify / Apple Music

Variant available for 2 pianos, 8 hands

Program Notes

Composed for voice and piano and sung entirely on a single vowel of the performer’s choosing, Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise does away with words altogether—yet it speaks volumes. Devoid of illustrative lyrics, the piece invites deeply personal interpretation while achieving a universal resonance: to quote critic Richard Wright, “As a metaphor for nostalgia, homesickness, and erotic yearning, nothing says it better.”

The absence of text and the radiance of the melody have made Vocalise an enduring favorite for transcription, inspiring arrangements for orchestra, chamber ensembles, choirs, and a wide range of solo instruments. In this arrangement for piano duet, Greg pays tribute both to Rachmaninoff’s indelible pianistic writing and the work’s emotional intimacy and passion.

— Greg Anderson & Elizabeth Joy Roe

Variant Available