Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote this song originally for voice and piano and, like many composers of his era (and earlier) rearranged his own original music for solo piano.

The convincing charm of this piece equals its inspiration - the perennial plant bearing the same name, whose flowers fragranced Springtime at Rachmaninoff's dacha in Russia.

Lilacs have the same effect on me as well. 

There is a variety of colours to these flowers and the fragrance is the same for each; pungent, unmistakingly recognizable and, when mature, covering the plant with flowers. 

This very effective arrangement is less about playing the piano as it is about freeing one’s imagination to create the fragrance of these flowers - to find those moments where the breeze gusts gently to carry the scent far from its source...and those ephemeral moments where the warm Springtime sun brightens the green of leaves overturned by that breeze to reveal their darker underside.

The melody of Lilacs is the experience of the lilacs - and also of our interactions with them. 

The Sun, the wind and the fragrance touched by Sun, and the wind itself can be found in those moments of the piece where the melody is absent or momentarily suspended through longer note values. 

It’s a tall order for pianists to create such a multidimensional experience...and if done correctly, the effect is nothing short of stunning and most welcomed to hear.

A direct contact with the keys using straight fingers (so the pad of each finger engages the keys) can produce an almost “air brushed” sound, not unlike the air-brush effect in photography that blurs exact outlines.

Using this approach will help to create the sensory effects of Sun, fragrance and wind for your audiences to enjoy. 

Listen to Lilacs

On Spotify

On Apple Music

On Deezer

On YouTube Music

On Amazon Music

On Pandora