Rachmaninoff Symphony no.2 op.27, 3rd Movement HD

Rachmaninoff Symphony no.2 op.27, 3rd Movement HD
Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Amsterdam, wonderfully conducted by
Eivind Gullberg Jensen. Solo clarinettist: Arjan Woudenberg.

I can't get through this one without sheer amazement at its beauty and richness, even to the point of getting all misty-eyed. Even now, as I write these words, and play the track in the background, I feel the old "shivers down the spine", a smile on my face, and the beginnings of tears. To me, this piece is about Love, pure and simple. Eivind Jensen's face shows the passion and love embodied within this work; here, he is a conduit of something wonderful, magical, even sublime.

My God, how I love this work, and I thank Avro/Radio 4 for allowing me the chance to edit this video, and to post this on You Tube.

Just the clarinet part alone! Look at Eivind Jensen's face as he guides this massive orchestra through this work - the man radiates the passion and love within this music.

Some early Greek philosophers came up with something called "The Doctrine of Ethos". It was a belief proclaiming that music itself directly influenced a person's mind, body, and soul - but that the pathway to this was only through the heart. Therefore, it was sacred and divine - after all, how could a mere combination of notes and sound ever denote emotion or feeling?

Music played or sung from the heart is immediately felt and heard. Even a humble street musician may play so very well that you are stunned, brought to tears, and gladly give them your money.

A favorite song that you grew up with can bring back memories, so very clearly, of where you were, of what you were doing, of who you were with.

Memories you thought were long gone, suddenly re-appear after just hearing a few notes of a favorite piece. How can that be?

The early Greeks, and later on the Christians, understood this - music itself is a divine gift, something special given to us directly from God.

This piece is for me such a divine gift.

-Rob Harrah, February 2011

p.s. - there is a story (perhaps apocryphal) that the beautiful melody line in this piece began as a piano piece that Rachmaninoff wrote, played and sung for his beloved wife. There were words to the melody line that the clarinet plays. Sigh. I can only wonder what the words were. It is, after all, a love song. How sweet is that?