What is art? It is explained perfectly by Rachmaninoff.
My constant desire to compose music is actually the urge within me to give tonal expression to my thoughts. . . .That, I believe, is the function that music should serve in the life of every composer; any other function it may fill is purely incidental. . . . What I try to do, when writing down my music, is to make it say simply and directly that which is in my heart when I am composing. If there is love there, or bitterness, or sadness, or religion, these moods become a part of my music, and it becomes either beautiful or bitter or sad or religious.
Having a son who shows as much promise as this great Russian did as a child, I often wonder if it’s all really worth it, all the work that goes into consummating talent. An absent foolish father, being sent away from home at nine, a mean teacher, two world wars, all this did bring about some of the most beautiful, meaningful music ever composed. So did hypnotherapy, early exposure to some of the greatest musical talents of all time, and eleven years in Conservatory. After reading this extensive account of the Russian artist’s life, it makes one keenly aware of the influences we expose talented children to, how those experiences will shape their art for all their lives.
Of course, it isn’t influence that births talent. Much of Rachmaninoff’s musical ability was inherited by his father, as was his inherent laziness and irresponsibility. It was the mean teacher, by today’s standard abusive, who worked this laziness out of him, by commanding every minute of his day, but exposing him to the greatest art and artists of the day–not just music and musicians, but visual art, plays, books, poetry, every kind of art.
Nikolia Zverev was known as an excellent but severe piano teacher . . . When a needy pupil showed unusual gifts, Zverev’s generosity matched his severity. This year Rachmaminoff was one of three pupils whom Zverev brought into his home, on the condition that he could supervise their lives and interests while they continued piano lessons with him at the Conservatory.
Rachmaninoff later learned to love this teacher and always regretted parting with him. We would not encounter such a situation here in Canada today. We know better.
Everyone knows that Rachmaninoff composed extensively, but I did not realize the range of music he composed, everything from his famous concertos to choral music to ballets. It was not fun for him to endure all those years of the critic’s heyday, but nothing seemed to stop him from composing, or performing, not exile or illness or even war, even though he was well known for saying, “Music can only succeed where there is peace and quiet.” Only conducting was hampered by fatigue and failing health in his later years.
Rachmaninoff is nearly as well known for his self criticism as he is for his music, but I was surprised to learn of his wry sense of humor. Imagine six in the morning the day after your wedding, disturbed by a clamor outside your bedroom window you look out to find the world famous conductor conducting an orchestra of pots and pats played by your wedding guests.
It took some hoop jumping to allow Sergei to marry his longtime companion and cousin, Natasha. They had two daughters, one of whom married a prince who left her a widow while expecting their first child. They lived all over Europe, but ended up in America for the last years. His wife reports as he lay on his death bed, “…in his delirium he often moved his hands, as if conduction an orchestra, or playing a piano.”
Sergei Rachmaninoff was as great in talent as he was in stature, soaring above his contemporaries and successors still. How blessed we are to have still available the results of this extraordinary, brilliant talent.
