Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) composed the Études-Tableaux, Op. 33, at his Ivanovka estate in Tambov, Russia, during the late summer of 1911. These “study pictures” were the first of two sets of piano études (the second being Op. 39) that combined technical brilliance with vivid, colorful imagery.
The crossed-out ones are in my desk. They will not be published.”
Of the nine études Rachmaninov originally wrote for this set, only six were published as part of Op. 33. One of the unpublished études, in A minor, was later revised and included in the Op. 39 set, while the remaining two, in C minor and D minor, were never published during his lifetime. In a letter to musicologist Boris Asafyev dated April 13, 1917, Rachmaninov mentioned these unpublished études, noting: “The crossed-out ones are in my desk. They will not be published.”
The term “Études-Tableaux” reflects Rachmaninov’s unique vision for these works: they are not merely technical studies but vivid “paintings in sound,” each evoking a distinct character or mood. Though Rachmaninov never provided specific titles or programs for these études, he shared with close friends that each piece was inspired by a particular programmatic idea.
With their dazzling virtuosity and poetic expression, the Études-Tableaux can be seen as programmatic piano poems, much like Liszt’s “Transcendental Études.” They challenge the performer while painting intricate musical landscapes that captivate the listener.
