Lilacs is the fifth of twelve songs in Rachmaninov's Op. 21 collection, from 1902. The text, by the little-known Ekaterina Beketova, speaks of a search for happiness, an apparently elusive one. This modest song was the only one from that set which Rachmaninov chose to transcribe for piano, and only one of two, from the nearly ninety, he ever reduced to the keyboard, the other being Daises, Op. 38, No. 3.

The mood of Lilacs is bright and hopeful at the outset, the theme a richly Romantic, slightly yearning one, so typical of Rachmaninov. In the latter measures there is a suggestion of sadness or disappointment. The piece lasts about two minutes and leaves the vague impression of a desire or longing for beauty that is left unfulfilled. The original song was written in the wake of Rachmaninov's renewed confidence from the success of his Second Piano Concerto (1900-01), following a long period of depression that resulted from the catastrophic failure of his First Symphony. Lilacs is modest and restrained, but is much more involved than the original accompaniment on piano, and brims with an assured sense of artistry.

This piece was not published until 1941, and this year may also sometimes be erroneously given as the date of the transcription.

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Lilacs is the fifth of twelve songs in Rachmaninov's Op. 21 collection, from 1902. The text, by the little-known Ekaterina Beketova, speaks of a search for happiness, an apparently elusive one. This modest song was the only one from that set which Rachmaninov chose to transcribe for piano, and only one of two, from the nearly ninety, he ever reduced to the keyboard, the other being Daises, Op. 38, No. 3.

The mood of Lilacs is bright and hopeful at the outset, the theme a richly Romantic, slightly yearning one, so typical of Rachmaninov. In the latter measures there is a suggestion of sadness or disappointment. The piece lasts about two minutes and leaves the vague impression of a desire or longing for beauty that is left unfulfilled. The original song was written in the wake of Rachmaninov's renewed confidence from the success of his Second Piano Concerto (1900-01), following a long period of depression that resulted from the catastrophic failure of his First Symphony. Lilacs is modest and restrained, but is much more involved than the original accompaniment on piano, and brims with an assured sense of artistry.

This piece was not published until 1941, and this year may also sometimes be erroneously given as the date of the transcription.

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Readers learning of the circumstances surrounding the composition of this song will fully understand the ecstatic sense of its passionate love music. Rachmaninov and his wife were on their honeymoon when he composed the work, which, not surprisingly, he also dedicated to her. Moreover, he had recently recovered from a depression caused by the disastrous 1897 premiere of his Symphony No. 1, which undermined his confidence and ability to compose until the appearance in 1901 of his ever-popular Piano Concerto No. 2. This was obviously a blissful time in his life, then, true to his nature, Rachmaninov was moved to write music here about romance and passion, leaving out the sunshine and merriment he must also have felt. The song features one of the composer's most soaring, beautiful vocal melodies that would not have been out of place in a slow movement of one of his concertos or symphonies. The accompaniment is appropriately subdued and just as romantic as the vocal line. The text, by G. Galina, describes a pastoral scene where young lovers have come to be alone with nature and themselves. This lovely song typically has a duration of just over two minutes.

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