Today I have one more piece by Rachmaninoff to share. In the fall of 1896, at the age of 23, the young Russian composer was under enormous financial pressure. He was counting on his next publication to be successful. He rushed to compose his Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16, between October and December. Good news - he pulled it off!

Each piece in Op. 16 takes on a different form and an individual theme and mood. Today's selection is the adagio sostenuto in D♭ major, the fifth in the set. It's in the form of a barcarolle - imitating the flowing, traditional folk songs sung by Venetian gondoliers.

Listen for the relaxed, flowing, boat-like flow in the LH. The RH melody sings out above it, serene at first, tense in the B section, and joyously serene in the return of the A section. I think it's quite lovely. :)

I hope you enjoy my performance!

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