Taught by renowned instructor
Jon Kimura Parker
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is a concerto in variation form. Although shorter than its traditional 3-movement brethren, the Paganini Rhapsody is as enduring as his 2nd and 3rd concerti and a favorite among virtuoso pianists. Join Rice University professor and concerto guru Jon Kimura Parker as he takes you on a tour of the variations, analyzing Rachmaninoff’s clever compositional devices, breaking down complex passagework, and revealing the magic of this one-of-a-kind piece.
Introduction: A concerto in variation form
In the first lesson of his course on Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Jon Kimura Parker introduces you to the main themes of the work and breaks down Rachmaninoff’s ingenious transformation of Paganini’s sprightly motif into the lush romantic melody of the 18th Variation.
Paganini’s Caprice and the Dies Irae (Intro, Theme, & Variations I-X)
In this lesson, Jon Kimura Parker guides you through the 1st section of the Paganini Rhapsody, showing how Rachmaninoff captures the spirit of Paganini’s 24th Caprice and gradually begins to merge it with the morbid tones of the ancient Dies Irae chant.
Romantic Interludes from Harlem to Hollywood (Variations XI-XVII)
In this lesson, Jon Kimura Parker breaks down the variations comprising the 2nd section of the work up until the famous 18th Variation. From the fleet-fingered jazz styles of Art Tatum to the intoxicating dreamworlds that would inspire Hollywood, Parker demystifies the music and shows how you can capture the magic with your own two hands.
The 18th Variation
In this lesson, Jon Kimura Parker goes under the hood of Rachmaninoff’s 18th Variation from the Paganini Rhapsody, revealing the Bachian motivic transformation at play and probing the subtle expressive possibilities of this rightfully popular variation.
A Dazzling Finale (Variations XIX-XXIV)
In this lesson, Jon Kimura Parker buckles his seat belt and takes you on a wild ride down the home stretch of the third and final section of Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody, deconstructing its pyrotechnics and showing you how to pull off the work’s show-stopping final variations.
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Unlock Course →Known for his passionate artistry and engaging stage presence, with multiple solo appearances at the Berlin Philharmonie, London’s South Bank, the Sydney Opera House, and the Beijing Concert Hall, Jon Kimura Parker continues to perform to great acclaim ever since his First Prize win at the 1984 Leeds Competition.
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