Caprice Bohémien

"Caprice Bohémian", Op. 12 is a symphonic poem for full orchestra composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1892-1894. An earlier example Rachmaninoff's compositions, the piece consists of many immense moments played in full a tutti, which was the same bombastic nature that critics would lambast with his next composition, Symphony No. 1 in D Minor. "Caprice Bohémian" was better received than his first symphony, which failed when first playd at launch and gained respect only after the composer's death.

Overview

The work is a "fantasy on Gypsy themes". After a short percussion entrance, the piece progresses slow and dramatic chords voiced by the low woodwinds and mirrored by the low brass. A short interlude by high winds brings the piece to a outburst from the strings- a theme echoed various times throughout the piece. The middle of the piece is drawn-out, being orchestrated as "lugubrious". In the last several minutes of the capriccio, which is ~20 minutes total length, the orchestra rebuilds to several loud and powerful themes. The idea of a gypsy's pleasures in life is shown with the wondrous and lively ending sequence. After a short and powerful respite in B minor, the composition ends in a blaring E Major chord.

References

[http://immaculatasymphony.org/past/Nov91.html http://immaculatasymphony.org/past/Nov91.html]