Sergei Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances
for Chamber Orchestra

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) composed his Symphonic Dances in 1940. It was composed and first performed in the USA where the composer generally lived and worked as a concert pianist. The piece displays Rachmaninoff's trademark Romantic qualities, combined with rhythmic brilliance, kaleidoscopic harmony and colourful scoring. The piece quotes earlier works by the composer, such as his First Symphony and All Night Vigil, as well as Russian Orthodox chants. It was also written as a work for two pianos, so it exists in large and small scale forms. This arrangement is for chamber orchestra and is the complete work unabridged. 

Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet (optional doubling alto saxophone), bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion (2 players: timpani, bass drum, triangle, cymbals, snare drum, tambourine, tam-tam, glockenspiel), piano, violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, double bass (strings can be single parts or a section of around 4, 4, 3, 2, 1)

Available to hire or purchase from Aria Editions here

Listen to a live performance of the arrangement here:

1. Non Allegro - opening (3’47)
1. Non Allegro - ending (6’17)
2. Andante con moto (9’58)
3. Lento assai - Allegro vivace (14’18)

​Watch highlights of a performance of the arrangement here: