Vocalise, Opus 34, No. 14 - Piano Solo

By Sergei Rachmaninoff

This is a beautiful transcription of the original score for voice and piano. Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise is a beloved work and has been transcribed for just about every instrument and combination of instruments. In this transcription, Robert Schultz has stayed true to the score. I purchased it because it is...

not “showy” like so many other transcriptions. I wanted something that reproduced the original piece on piano without the fireworks. Most piano transcriptions contain sections for virtuosic bravado that are not contained in the original score. The most difficult part for me in this edition are the many left hand passages of large octave chords that contain the melody, or fragments of it. They need to be played legato despite being cumbersome. That can be tricky. I had to drop a few notes in places, but it still works well.

I bought this alongside the Boosey Richardson transcription as it was $3, so why not? I can't say I was disappointed since I wasn't expecting anything, but here are my thoughts: Production quality--the score is printed clearly and well notated but is on very flimsy magazine-type...

paper. It will not tolerate any misuse. The Schultz transcription is poor. It remains (as far as I can tell) very faithful to the original, but that's the problem. A piano does not have the ability of a voice to cause tears with just one note. It has to do something more in order to make it interesting, and this version is lacking in that regard. However, the transcription is also very easy (depending on your ability level, of course) so one at an intermediate level could probably play it well. For any capable, though, I would recommend getting the more difficult Richardson transcription, available in relatively good production quality from Boosey & Hawkes for $10-$15.

I have not a wide knowlege of music. However this music give me a special impression of legent world.

Beautiful piece. A little harder than it looks, but it's mostly because of my limited skills. I know my son will get it in no time.

This music is in the typical Rachmaninoff piano style which requires a large hand with stretches over an octave. You can leave out notes to condense the stretch without affrecting the sound of the piece but be prepared to do some work to make it sound effortless. I do enjoy...

playing it.