1.42. Rachmaninov

Read the text and find out why Rachmaninov was such a great pianist.

The Opening chords of his second piano concerto are well known to music lovers. But anyone who can read a score ( партитура) would be quick to spot that the chords Rachmaninov wrote are completely unplayable to anyone with normal-sized hands.

Why did Rachmaninov write such unplayable music? The answer is that, for Rachmaninov it wasn’t unplay­able.The distinguished pianist Cyril Smith, who knew the composer, descri­bed Rachmaninov’s hands as being the largest he had ever seen,”covering the keyboard like octopus tentacles”. According to Cyril Smith Rachmaninov could play with his right hand. a chord of C with an extra E at the top. This is hard enough for most people, but Rachmaninov could do it using his thumb to play the middle E. He could twist his thumb between his fingers in a way impossible for normal people.

Medical researchers think Rachmaninov may have suffered from a hereditary disease, now called Marian syndrome. It is a rare disease of connective tissue which can affect the skeleton, eyes, heart and blood vessels. The most marked syndrorm is excessive bone growth leading to long limbs and fingers. The composer was known to suffer from back pain and stiff joints, other symptoms of this disease.

Rachmaninov’s appearance was characteristic of a sufferer from Marian’s syndrome. He was tall and slender and had a long thin nose and prominent ears. Recorded in Rachma ninov’s scores (партитура) is the evidence of a man with extraordinary manual dexterity (ловкость). But Rachmaninov’s genius doesn’t seem to lose much, if anything, when interpreted by pia­nists with normal-sized hands.

Exercise

Fill in the gaps to make the sentences complete:

1. Rachmaninov wrote music completely ----- to anyone with normal-sized hands.

2. Cyril Smith, who knew the composer, descri­bed Rachmaninov’s hands as being --- he had ever seen.

3. Medical researchers think Rachmaninov may have suffered from a hereditary ---.

4. Rachmaninov’s appearance was --- of a sufferer from Marian’s syndrome.

5. Rachmaninov was a man with --- manual dexterity (ловкость).

1.43. Gainsborough and music

Read and find in the text examples proving that Gainsborough was a great music-lover.

The famous English painter Gainsborough was passionately fond of music and he filled his house with all kinds of musical instruments, which he could play rather well. He considered them to be the most beautiful works of human skill and sometimes even wished he were a professional musician.

Once Gainsborough saw a lute in a picture of Van Dyck's and concluded that it must be a fine instrument, because, perhaps, it was finely painted. He immediately decided that it was absolutely necessary that he should have such an instrument in his collection. He also wished he could play it. So Gainsborough hurried to a professor of music famous for playing this instrument very well. He found the professor dining, then smoking his pipe with his lute beside him. "I have come to buy your lute, and I won't leave your house until you sell it to me. Name your price," said the painter. The professor was so astonished that he sold his lute. But on getting the lute Gainsborough proposed that the professor should sell him his book of music as well. The professor refused, saying that he couldn't really part with the book. But Gainsborough insisted that the book should be sold to him. Finally Gainsborough with the book of music and the lute left the house, but soon returned. This time he insisted on the professor's going with him and giving the first lesson. The professor suggested that a lesson should be given some other time, as at the moment he couldn't go being in his dressing gown and without a wig. But Gainsborough wouldn't listen to any reason. A minute later the professor without s wig, in a dressing gown was walking with the painter. In the unusual and eccentric way he acquired all kinds of musical instruments and made the acquaintance of professors of music, many of whom became his best friends.

Exercise

Find in the text the answers:

1. Was the famous English painter Gainsborough passionately fond of music?

2. Why did he fill his house with all kinds of musical instruments?

3. Did he have a lute in his collection?

4. What did the painter ask the professor?