Polka Italienne

Russian composer, pianist and conductor Sergeij Rachmaninow (1873-1943) is regarded as one of the most versatile musicians of his time. He wrote symphonies, piano concertos, chamber music, tone poems, operas and songs. As concert pianist he was in great international demand, his many concert tours brought him to Europe and the United States. During World War I he fled through Sweden to the U.S. with his family, and he almost totally lost his inspiration for composing. In 1930, he moved back to Europe, buying a property in Switzerland and building a great mansion. In consequence of World War II he had to flee to the U.S. again, where he died in Beverly Hills in 1943, just before his 70th birthday. “Polka Italienne” is based on a melody that Rachmaninow heard in Italy at the beginning of the 1900’s, played by an old street organ. He liked the melody very much and wrote it down for piano right after he had returned to his hotel. Today, the edition for four-handed piano is regarded as the original version. German composer and arranger Stefan Schwalgin has carefully created a skillfully orchestrated new version, meeting the standards and requirements of a modern European wind orchestra and bringing “Polka Italienne” to the wonderful sound of winds.