About this edition
Composed between 1906 and 1907 during Rachmaninoff's self-imposed exile in Dresden, the Symphony No. 2 in E minor stands as one of the great achievements of late Romantic symphonism — a sweeping, deeply lyrical work that restored the composer's confidence after the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony a decade earlier. Its soaring third-movement Adagio, with its long-breathed clarinet melody, has become one of the most beloved passages in the entire orchestral repertoire, while the symphony's cyclic structure and rich contrapuntal textures reveal Rachmaninoff at the height of his symphonic mastery.
This score reproduces the first edition published by A. Gutheil in Moscow in 1908, bearing plate number A. 8899 G. and engraved by the celebrated Leipzig firm Breitkopf und Härtel — a partnership that ensured exceptional clarity and craftsmanship in the engraving. Gutheil was Rachmaninoff's principal Russian publisher during this period, and this first edition appeared shortly after the composer himself conducted the work's triumphant premiere in St. Petersburg on 8 February 1908, an event that won him the Glinka Prize. As the earliest published source of the score, it carries significant historical and textual authority for performers and scholars studying the work.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score (conductor's score)
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Reproduced from a public domain historical source
- Source edition: Moscow, A. Gutheil, n.d. [1908], plate A. 8899 G., engraved by Breitkopf und Härtel
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
This volume reproduces a public domain historical edition, making one of the cornerstones of the Russian symphonic repertoire conveniently available to conductors, orchestral players, students, and devoted listeners alike. We hope it serves you well in study, rehearsal, and performance.
