Before I started exploring the world of classical music, I had considered the entire thing as one era. I was unaware of the different periods until I began learning to play the piano in 2021.
While reading about music theory and researching some of the great composers, I was introduced to the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras.
As it turns out, the majority of the music had I loved prior to taking up piano lessons is from the Romantic or late-Classical eras. Upon discovering this, I set out to find more music from the Romantic era.
I find the complexity of the piano during this era to be quite appealing to me. It sounds so difficult, maybe even impossible, yet so beautiful.
I found a piece by Sergei Rachmaninoff called Prelude in C Sharp Minor. It immediately became my favorite piece.
I decided to search online for videos of pianists playing Prelude in C Sharp Minor and found an old classic by Josef Hofmann. His rendition turned out to be the best I had heard. Watching him play is just jaw-dropping. The way he seemingly clubbed at the chords just amazed me. There was such precision in a hand movement that looked anything but precise.
I watched this video over and over and over. Every single day I listened to recordings of this piece by Mr. Hofmann, and others. I started searching for more videos of pianists playing this piece when I stumbled upon a video of Yuja Wang performing another one of Rachmaninoff’s famous pieces.
I never did find a video of Yuja Wang playing Prelude in C Sharp Minor. Instead, I was introduced to two other great pieces – Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5, and Prelude in B Minor, Op. 31, No. 10.
Yuja Wang’s performance of these two pieces mesmerized me. I was blown away by the movement of her hands and the expressions on her face. I could see in her the emotion that one must feel not only as a listener, but as a performer. It looked as if she was taken to another world during these performances.
As I was new to the piano, I wanted to draw inspiration from everything I listened to, read, or watched. I was immediately drawn to how Yuja Wang’s fingers seemingly worked magic on the keys.
I started to watch Yuja Wang’s Rachmaninoff performances with a steady eye on her fingers… studying the complex movement and positioning in awe. Although I am still merely a beginner, I credit her with helping me get comfortable with the keys.
I then discovered Evgeny Kissin and Valentina Lisitsa. I am amazed every time I watch these great virtuoso pianists perform. It seems like every week I find another pianist who plays so beautifully that it touches my battered heart and soul.
As it turns out, the video of Josef Hofmann playing Prelude in C Sharp Minor was the only video ever made of him. A timeless classic in my eyes.
It seems to me that the Romantic era was filled with emotion. Pieces such as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 – 2. Adagio sostenuto tug at my emotions.
While listening to these wonderful pieces, I experience a sense of sadness, loss, hurt, hope, aspiration, triumph, power, and greatness. Some parts nearly bring me to tears but eventually bring me up as if I climbed a mountain after surviving a great tragedy. The crescendo brings me up to the peak of the mountain from where I can view a brighter future and start a new journey.
