Sandy Beane said:

>That Rachmaninoff piece is hardly played because the piano part is
>monstrous.  At least that is the reason out here in WI.  it takes a lot if
>not more work for the piano part than the cello, and around here it is hard
>to find good pianists.

I have an old Nonesuch recording with Harvey Shapiro on Cello and Earl
Wild on Piano. I recall someone pointing out that the Rachmaninoff piece
is a Sonata for "Piano and Cello", whereas most sonatas for these two
instruments are for "Cello and Piano".  It is probably telling that
Rachmaninoff puts the Piano before the Cello.

One should not be surprised that this Sonata is beautiful.  Being Op. 19,
it could be viewed as a worthy successor to the Second Suite for 2 Pianos,
Op. 17 and the 2nd Piano Concerto, Op 18.  I don't know what Op 20 is, but
the Chopin Variations are Opus 22.

Joel Hill
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Tallahassee, FL