Sheet Music: Vocalise

TitleVocalise
from Fourteen Songs
Opus numberOp. 34, No 14
ComposerSergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyC-sharp minor
RangeC#4–C#6
Time signature4/4
Tempo40 BPM
Performance time6:05
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (82 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.9 MB)
Date added2010-02-10
Last updated2010-02-10
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 3.9 (popular)
Categories
20th century

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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.