Table of Contents

Sergei Rachmaninoff

best sheet music editions

Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943) is a Russian pianist and composer of the late Romantic era. His music was influenced by Russian greats such as Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Works of his that should be known to any pianist include his 2 piano sonatas, etudes, preludes, 4 piano concerti, themes and variations on Corelli and Chopin, Suites for 2 pianos, piano trios, and cello sonata.

His songs for piano and voice are also something that should be looked at.

Boosey and Hawkes seems to be the best edition overall (unless you can find some authoritative Russian editions elsewhere.) Henle Verlag is great as well.

Best Editions Rachmaninoff

24 Preludes

Rachmaninoff’s 24 preludes include Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2, 10 preludes of Op. 23; Thirteen Preludes of Op. 32. The most popular preludes are Op. 3, No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 23, No. 5 in G-minor, and Op. 32, No. 10 in B-minor.

Henle Verlag Urtext

Published in 2014.

Edited by Dominik Rahmer with fingering by Marc-André Hamelin

Here is a perfect example of why getting the best edition matters:

In Henle’s blog, the extensive and interesting article “A wrong ‘D’ goes out into the world – Rachmaninoff’s Prélude in c sharp minor under the magnifying glass“, a typo in measure 6 of the famous C-sharp minor Prelude, Op 3 No 2 is examined.

Taken from Russian edition edited by Pavel Lamm
Konstantin Igumnov (m. 5 – 7)

In short, this article shows that there is supposed to be a D-sharp in the left hand, however, the Russian first edition writes a d natural. Henle sites the original autograph, and also the Gutheil edition, in which Rachmaninov confirmed the correct note. Some editions to this day write the incorrect d natural, such as the Alfred Edition Recital Winner Book.

Also, in Rachmaninov’s own recording of this piece, you will see the D-sharp being played

Be very careful of the edition you choose, or you may unknowingly play the incorrect notes!

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Boosey and Hawkes

Contains the complete preludes, etudes, and musical moments op 16.

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Piano Sonatas

There are two versions of the second piano sonata. They are the original from 1913 and the rework from 1931 (and a third version from Vladimir Horowitz in 1982).

International Music Company

Contains the original 1913 version.

Edited by John Browning

You can see a sample of the International Music Company Rachmaninoff Piano Sonata with this link.

This is the 1944 IMC copy:

Boosey and Hawkes

Here is an example of the Boosey and Hawkes Rachmaninoff Piano Sonatas:

best edition rachmaninoff

Alfred Masterwork Edition

Contains both piano sonatas.

Here is an example of the Alfred Classic Rachmaninoff Piano Sonatas:

best edition rachmaninoff

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Dover Edition

Published in 1992. Contains the 1931 version of the second piano sonata.

Here is an example of Dover Rachmaninoff Piano

best edition rachmaninoff

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Published in 2013. Contains only the first piano sonata and other works for solo piano.

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Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 33 and Op. 39

Op. 33 contains 8 Etudes composed in 1911. These etudes are “picture pieces,” but Rachmaninoff never explicitly mentioned what the pictures were to each etude.

Op. 39 was composed in 1916 and contains 9 etudes.