There can be few pieces of classical music loved as much as Rachmaninov’s (Rachmaninoff) 2nd Piano Concerto.
Written around 1901 his Opus 18 concerto in C minor has become a worldwide popular classic. At the time it firmly established his reputation as a composer and pianist. (he was the soloist for the premier performance in 1901)
Royalty Free Non-MCPS Recording of Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto
YoPo Music has recorded an extract of the beautiful slow movement. The track is now available to purchase and use in your productions. See below to preview the music and purchase your copy.
Use of Rachmaninov Piano Concerto in Films
Perhaps most famously, the piano concerto provided the score for David Leen’s 1945 film Brief Encounter, but it also can be heard in many other films including:
- Frank Borzage’s 1946 film I’ve Always Loved You
- William Dieterle’s 1950 film September Affair
- Rhapsody (1954), directed by Charles Vidor
- Billy Wilder’s 1955 film The Seven Year Itch
- Clint Eastwood’s 2010 film Hereafter
Why has the piece remained so popular?
The concerto is a masterpiece of beautiful melodies and harmonic progressions continually pulling at your heart strings. There is an overwhelmingly sentimental feel to it – an almost depressed sad quality inherent in its c minor key. However there is also beauty and hope all through this work, a determination love will prevail no matter what. Perhaps it is this quality which has made the piece such a perfect fit for the many films it has appeared on.
Royalty Free Non-MCPS licence from YoPo Music
When you purchase a track from YoPo Music you purchase a licence to dub that music onto your productions as many times as you like, worldwide in perpetuity. Please see the terms and conditions for full licensing details.
More information on Rachmaninov at Wikipedia
See the full orchestral score at IMSLP Petrucci Music Library