San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-28
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
WILL APPEAR SUNDAY
AT BEETHOVEN HALL
Famous Pianist Is Here
for One Con-
cert.

In the concert of Sergei Rachman-
! inoff, pianist, on Sunday afternoon,
January rs, in Beethoven Hall, San
Antonio has the honor of greeting the
man who is perhaps the most individ-
ual and distinguished musician of his
day. There are three or four pianists
now before the public whose playing
is as arresting and as significant, and
also. two or three composers whose
work is comparable with his. but in
no other contemporary. musician are
the two divergent abilities as strongly
marked and as highly developed.
Every student of music is familiar
with the compositions of Rachmaninoff.
Since the time, eight or nine years ago,
when his c sharp minor Prelude first
became known wherever the piano is
played, the interest in its marvellous
creator has increased and broadened.
That Prelude, which Rachmaninoff will
play in San Antonio. presents a per-
feet tonal example of what in Latin
is called "multum in parvo"-much in
little. 1t shows a directness, a melo-
die. spontaniety, and a terse eloquence
which has rarely been approached.
Rachmaninoff, himself, says of it "Of
course / am a bit tired of the Prelude
and it represents such a small part of
my musical resources that sometimes
regret its popularity, when so many
other better works from my pen are
not So well known. The Prelude,
however, made my reputation, and per-
haps without that piece as an intro
duction / could never have secured a
lparInU fha nf
have therefore, secret affection for
the much played Prelude. A lady
once asked me If it was the Russian
national hymn. / was only twenty
when / wrote it, and at twenty, one
writes music from the heart and not
from the mind. The Prelude came TO
me as a musical inspiration which L
felt deeply enough to commit to paper.
That is all can say"
OF Rachmaninoff, the composer,
much is known, but of Rachmaninoft
the man, comparatively little. When
he came to America on his first visit,
he landed here quietly, made few
public appearances and slipped away,
almost before the public had awaken
ed to his presence. He remain a
legendary figure shrouded in a sort of
mystery, which was intensified, when
after his return to Europe his music
began TO flower at its best, and his
piano and orchestral compositions and
songs found ardent reception wherever
they were heard.
Beyond the facts that he Is a Rus
sian gentleman of curiously simple
tastes and habits, stunning publicity
and almost impossible to interview,
there is little that can be learned of
him personally. The profound impress
sion he creates wherever he is heard,
is musical history that is too we'll
known to need recounting. After all,
a composers history is written in his
music, for all those who have ears to
hear. The G sharp minor Prelude
tells its own tale of the tragedy and
travail Of Rachmaninoff and his lost
Russia.
The program which he will play
here, is:
L s-.....a.r..a, .-
Fantasia .......'.......... Chopin
.
Carnaval ............... Schumann
Preambule, Pierrot, Arlequin, Vnlse
noble, Eusebius, Florestan, Coquette,
Replique, Sphinx, Papillons, Lettres
dansantes, Chiarina, Chopin, Esterlla,
Reconnaissance, Pantalonet. Colon
bine, Valse Allemands; Paganini
Promenade, Pause, Marche des DAY.
idsbundler contre les Philistines.
g.
(a) Polonaise, - e,j...
90 Nocturne ,.,,........... Chopin
(c) Valse.
(a( Prelude, G sharp minor.
10 Serenade ......... Rachmaninoff
Ia JonsleuSs '''''..:., Moszkowski
La Campanella ..........,, List