Course Syllabus
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.
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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