Anton Rubinstein’s Deux Fantaisies sur des chansons populaires Russes, Op. 2 and Six Preludes, Op. 24: A Performance Guide and Recording

Anton Rubinstein was a notable pianist as well as a valued music educator; however, the lack of recognition for him as a composer motivated me to look more deeply into his compositions. Some of his pieces have never been recorded and are rarely performed today. Composer César Cui wrote a music critique titled “Anton Rubinstein” in The Musical World, that “his music has skilled harmonies and flowing melodies, but without innovations compared to his predecessors”. My hope is that this research project will foster more appreciation for his compositions from musicians and music enthusiasts. This project focuses on two of Anton Rubinstein’s works. The first, Deux Fantaisies sur des chansons populaires Russes, Op. 2, is based on two meditative and melancholic popular Russian tunes. For the second piece, Six Preludes, Op. 24, I will focus primarily on the first three preludes. This research paper includes the composer’s educational background, as well as the major figures surrounding him and highlighting potential influences on his compositions. A descriptive analysis of the works mentioned above is given for the purpose of better understanding the works through the perspectives of forms, comparisons to other compositions, and discussion of compositional styles. A performance guide is provided, giving practice tips for the musical and technical challenges in these pieces.