Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux in B Minor, Op. 39 No. 4

Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Etudes-Tableaux (translated study-pictures) are masterpieces of the etude genre. An etude is a study meant to refine the performer’s technique. Rachmaninoff used pictures as inspiration for his etudes, but he did not publicly disclose them. The etudes are short challenging character pieces in Rachmaninoff’s mature, expressive, dynamic compositional style. This piece is centered on repeated notes and staccato articulations. One novel thing about the piece is the absence of a time signature. This performance is by Grant Smith.