Throughout history, music has played a vital role in influencing people’s moods and eliciting complex emotions. Examining music’s emotional side helps us investigate and reveal the neurological mechanisms underlying music’s emotional influence. This article discusses the results of previous studies that explore the performance and emotional expression of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsodies on a Theme of Paganini, a piece for piano composed by the Russian-American composer-pianist (1873-1943). The themes are investigated from both a historical and a musical standpoint. The inclusion of background information on the composer, including a brief biography, is intended to aid in the learning and performance of this piece. Fully comprehending the performance and emotional aspects of Paganini’s Rhapsodies on a Theme of Paganini, Op 43, may enable performers to adjust phrasing and the physical execution of required skills. Furthermore, the research results can be used to build a narrative that the performer can use to analyse how they choose to physically perform the work to produce an engaging performance.
Citation: He Si Yuan, He Si Xian and Gao Xin (2022) A review on the Performance Interpretation and Emotional Expression of Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on A Theme of Paganini Op 43, International Journal of Music Studies, Vol.4, No.1, pp.1-15
Keywords: Emotional Expression, Music Performance, Rhapsody on Theme Paganini, Sergei Rachmaninoff
