Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff and The Planets by Holst, do we need to say more? Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto is perhaps the - already popular - composer's best-known hit. Holst's grand orchestral work The Planets is an impressive musical translation of our solar system: otherworldly in beauty and a touch mysterious.
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Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff and The Planets by Holst
Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto
From the bells in the opening chords and the overwhelming orchestral sections to the triumphant string melodies and the mightily virtuosic piano part, Rachmaninoff's romantic Second Piano Concerto instantly captures the listener. And then that bittersweet second movement is yet to come! It is of unearthly beauty. It inspired Eric Carmens All by Myself , and artists from Frank Sinatra to Muse successfully took to it. Rachmaninoff composed the concerto after a long writer's block that followed the poor reception of his First Symphony . Now that's a comeback! Delightful, thoroughly romantic enjoyment.
The Planets by Holst
When Gustav Holst peered at our solar system at night, he got the inspiration for the grand orchestral work The Planets . It is cosmic, otherworldly and a touch mysterious. Each movement describes the nature of the planets and their influence on humans. For example, Venus is “The bringer of Peace,” Uranus “The Magician” and Mars “The bringer of War. The music is impressive, catchy and picture-perfect.