SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Vocalise in C-sharp minor  
for Soprano and Orchestra, Opus 34, No. 14
COMPOSER: Born Semyonovo, Russia, April 1, 1873;  
died Beverly Hills, CA, March 28, 1943
WORK COMPOSED: Originally for voice and piano, 1915.  
Orchestrated by the composer in 1915/16.
WORLD PREMIERE: Moscow, January 25, 1916, with soprano  
Antonina Nezhdanova, orchestra conducted by Rachmaninoff.
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons,  
2 horns, strings
ESTIMATED DURATION: 6 minutes
T
he ever-popular Vocalise is a “song without words,” but not in the sense of Mendelssohn, who gave 
this title to several of his short piano pieces. Rachmaninoff’s piece is unusual in that it is a real 
song, written for a singer (the word “vocalise” means a vocal exercise), and included in a collection of 
14 songs (the others with words, of course). This beautiful melody, full of longing and nostalgia, has 
been arranged countless times for various instrumental combinations. The present orchestration of 
the piano part, with some delicate woodwind solos, is by the composer himself.
PROGRAM NOTES     	 	
20   Santa Rosa Symphony	
(707) 546-8742

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