Composer

:

Sergey Rachmaninov

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1890 - 1893

Average_duration

:

1:53

"Oh no, I beg you, forsake me not, Op. 4/1" is a vocal composition by the Russian composer Sergey Rachmaninov. It was composed in 1892, when Rachmaninov was just 19 years old, and is the first of his Fourteen Romances, Op. 4. The piece premiered in Moscow in 1893, with the composer himself accompanying the singer. It is a setting of a poem by the Russian poet Aleksey Tolstoy, and is written for a high voice (soprano or tenor) and piano. The piece is in three movements, with a total duration of around six minutes. The first movement is marked "Andante," and is characterized by a mournful melody in the piano, which is then taken up by the voice. The second movement is marked "Allegro," and is more lively and rhythmic, with the piano providing a driving accompaniment to the voice. The final movement is marked "Lento," and returns to the mournful mood of the first movement, with the voice singing a plaintive melody over a simple piano accompaniment. The piece is notable for its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which were unusual for the time. It also showcases Rachmaninov's gift for melody, with the vocal line soaring and dipping in a way that is both expressive and technically demanding. Overall, "Oh no, I beg you, forsake me not, Op. 4/1" is a haunting and beautiful piece of music, and a testament to Rachmaninov's early talent as a composer.

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