Rachmaninoff's Prelude

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer who is one my absolute favorites. In the midst of his fellow classical greats, he actually didn't die that long ago. He died on March 28, 1943, in Beverly Hills, CA. I tend to lean to the Romantic period but I can't deny my 'Scorpio'ness' either and do have a dark side. My favorite notes on the piano are in the lower register. Those deep low notes resonate in my soul and put me in a trance of sorts. I always defy the saying "End on a high note" during practice and must make an actual effort to end on high notes during my videos for the superstitious folks out there that might get a bad vibe otherwise.

Rachmaninoff was quite dark as well. This particular piece was described by him as someone waking up after being buried alive. Slowly waking up and becoming aware of where they were and the intensity building as they began to panic. Dark enough for you?

My first personal song that is entirely of my own creation is about death but I always had a rule of not rushing my own material and only practicing certain songs when I was able to continue on. That meant my song about death couldn't be felt unless I was in great sorrow having once again had to deal with death. My view of death changed many years ago and I don't know if I'll ever be able to get back into that mindset again. Yet, it's my favorite piece, a rhapsody I still hope to someday share.