Vocalise (Rachmaninoff)

Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 is a song by Sergei Rachmaninoff, published in 1912 as the last of his "Fourteen Songs, Opus 34". Written for voice (soprano or tenor) with piano accompaniment, it contains no words, but is sung using any one vowel (of the singer's choosing). It was dedicated to soprano Antonina Nezhdanova.

Range

Although the original publication stipulates that the song may be sung by either soprano or tenor voice, it is usually chosen to be performed by a soprano. As with many classical vocal pieces, it is transcribed in a variety of keys, allowing the performer to choose a vocal range more suitable to their natural voice, so that artists who may not have the higher range of a soprano can nevertheless perform the song. When sung by a tenor, it is sung an octave lower than the same key when sung by a soprano.

Arrangements

"Vocalise"'s popularity is so great that it has been arranged for many different instrument combinations. Among them:

For/With Orchestra

* for orchestra, arranged by Rachmaninoff himself, also by Morton Gould and Kurt Sanderling
* for choir and orchestra, arranged by Norman Luboff and Walter Stoff
* for soprano and orchestra, arranged by Arcady Dubensky
* for flute and orchestra, arranged by Charles Gerhardt

For Chamber Ensemble

* for piano trio (violin, cello and piano), arranged by the Eroica Trio
* for clarinet, violin and piano, arranged by Quinto Maganini
* for jazz ensemble, arranged by Don Sebesky
* for 24 cellos, as performed by the London Cello Orchestra.

For Solo Instrument and Piano

* for clarinet and piano, arranged by David Campbell
* for trombone and piano, arranged by Christian Lindberg
* for trombone and piano, arranged by Henry Charles Smith
* for euphonium and piano, arranged by Steven Mead
* for violin and piano, arranged by Jascha Heifetz
* for cello and piano, arranged by Jascha Heifetz and Mstislav Rostropovich
* for cello and piano, arranged by Wolfram Huschke
* for cello and piano, arranged by Raphael Wallfisch
* for doublebass and piano, arranged by Oscar G. Zimmerman (in D minor)

For Solo Instrument

* for two pianos, arranged by Vitya Vronsky
* for solo piano, arranged by Alan Richardson, Zoltan Kocsis and others
* for accordion, arranged by Nikolai Ryskov
* for saxophone, arranged by Larry Teal
* for trumpet, arranged by Rolf Smedvig

Other

* for electronic instruments, arranged by Isao Tomita
* for theremin, arranged by Clara Rockmore

Music samples

ee also

* Vocalise

External links

* [http://classicalcdreview.com/vocalise.htm Review of a CD consisting entirely of different arrangements of Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise"]
*IMSLP2|id=Songs%2C_Op.34_%28Rachmaninoff%2C_Sergei%29|cname=Songs, Op. 34