2.8 (popular)
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Tune of the Day: Vocalise
by Sergei Rachmaninoff
One of Rachmaninoff's most popular pieces, the “Vocalise” was published in 1912 as the last of his Fourteen Songs, Op. 34. Although written for voice (soprano or tenor) with piano accompaniment, the song contains no words; instead, it is sung using only one vowel.
The piece immediately became popular, and the composer fashioned several transcriptions of the work, including one for piano and another for orchestra. The pure and enchanting melody has subsequently been arranged for many different instrument combinations, ranging from tuba and piano to solo trumpet. Curiously, however, the piece has never become very popular among flutists.