Sometimes it's hard to believe that Rachmaninoff was only 18 when he composed this piece. For those that don't know the story behind it: it is said that Rachmaninoff had a dream where he was at a funeral, and in the distance was a coffin. At 1:24 begins walking towards it, faster and faster. At 2:09 he opens it and... finds himself inside.

I'm happy to say after 2 weeks I finally have mastered the first three chords.

I was so touched and honored that my friend asked me to play piano at her wedding so I played this

“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninoff

There’s such a menacing feeling that comes from this piece. It’s not fear, but this feeling of dread and hopelessness. Sends chills down my spine every time.

Every pianist *had* their own drugs Liszt: *o c t a v e s* Rachmaninoff: *c h o r d s* Mozart: *habit of making good tunes* Chopin: *all of the above* Beethoven: *can't hear it*

The emotion and depth of the chords after 2:09 just blows me away, I love this piece

I first heard this piece 5 years ago, and as a beginner pianist i wondered if i could ever play it, many hundreds of noisy hours later and learning many easier pieces I managed to learn it which is shocking, just goes to show never give up on your dreams no matter how tough they are.

I heard that Rachmaninoff got sick of people asking him to play this because it was so popular! XD -Andrew

If you hear this on a public piano in an airport before your flight.... skip the flight please.

2:05 As a metal fan, I can say that this is the most heavy metal moment in all of classical music. Gives me goosebumps.

Legend has it that Rachmaninoff played this with one hand, and with the other hand he wrote this piece in paper

Clair De Lune sounds like Life, and this piece sounds like Death.

*Only 1800’s emo kids remember this absolute banger*

Oh I remember one memorable morning when I first heard this masterpiece... Back then I lived opposite the Music Conservoire. It was warm early Summer's Sunday morning and someone was blasting this piece with their window open (and so was mine across the street). I've listened in awe. More and more entangled in Music... I immediately thought 'It MUST be Rachmaninoff!' and then 'I GOTTA find this piece' So I went through all his preludes (my first thought) and thus - found this mastepiece. I was about 14/15 years old.

Imagine walking in a abandoned house at night and entering in a destroyed room with a piano at the center which is playing this piece by itself

2:09 gives me so many goosebumps,this is the most haunting part of classic piano music I've ever heard.

My first concert piece. After 60 years I can still play and enjoy the gift Mother gave me. Thank you Mom.

I stumbled upon Rachmaninoff when I was in a very dark place in my life. The first time that I ever listened, I found I had tears streaming down my face while my soul was purged of heavy emotion in an almost orgasmic release. It is my absolute favorite piano composition that exists. Thank you for this wonderful video!

Thank you Rousseau. Covid killed a lot of my passion and motivation as a musician, but your channel reignited that passion as well as a new passion for improving at piano. You've made a big difference for me :)

Dear God I swear I’m gonna lose it with these “simply piano” ads

This piece was the first time I saw a « sffff » on a sheet of music 😂

I played this piece for a competition a month or two ago, believe me that it it one of the most beautiful preludes of all time.

the best piece I've ever heard in my life, I can feel in my skin what rachmaninoff felt in the dream, the horror, the despair, it's just wonderful.

2:09 you can feel one's terror of seeing self in the coffin...........

I swear this guy can play every single piece in this world

Little hand size pianist: T_T Rachmaninoff playing the whole piece with only one hand: ???

Those first three chords really show how menacing the song is gonna be! Love it!

Little tip: don’t play this at family gatherings when they ask you to play something

2:58 I think right around here, he wakes up. The notes almost sound like deep breathing.

The most metal piano piece ever written.

I love this piece! I listen it almost every day on your channel! Pure perfection! My respect!👏

This is one of my favorite pieces by far, the compelling feel of despair and helplessness give off such a dark tone and makes you truly feel scared

People: piano music is boring... Rachmaninoff: hold my beer...

I love this masterpiece! I’m so glad you were able to play this. Awesome Job!!

Am I the only one who thinks that the chords at 2:09 sound a lot like a thunderclap? This gives the piece so much more emotion

If you hear a recital with this piece, run. Run for your life.

**has a dream about going to a funeral only to see myself in the coffin** Me: Hehe, I wish. Rachmaninoff: **writes a masterpiece of piano repertoire that he ends up hating**

2:09 always sends shivers down my spine

You play this and everything else so beautifully! Thank you for your wonderful videos!💗

Can you play piano? Rachmaninoff: only chords

God: So how big do you want your hands to be? Rachmaninoff: Y E S

This is the first video of your channel I ever saw years ago, and I have been following ever since. Love all of the beautiful music, and videos. Thank you and sending positive energy to you!

I recently started really studying this piece. The first thing I noticed on your video was the use of the 2, 3 finger on the C# keys in the beginning. Bravo! I love your videos!

Well, that escalated quickly

Let me tell you a story: Rachmaninoff finds himself at a funeral. Sad the day was, like most funerals. He saw his brother giving a speech at the front, but wasn't bothered to listen to it, as he was still trying to remember who died for this funeral, he tried his hardest, but couldn't recall. He started to wonder a few things as he looked around the room, his mother, crying, and his father, comforting her. Who had died that could make them so sad? He wondered this to himself, he knew everyone at the funeral as well, it must've been a close relative if he knew everyone there. They where lining up to see the fallen in their coffin, and with each step Rachmaninoffs heart beat quicker. People where giving him funny looks, and started to suspect something about who died. Sweat was slowly falling down his face as he slowly walked too the coffin, his mother in front of him. He heard It in the back, one of his pieces where being played as he got closer. Time slowed down, each step forward felt like 10 seconds of work, as he grew increasingly nervous. It was his turn up to see the person who lay. He took the first step and breathed in, he was profusely sweating now, as he took the last step. He found himself, inside the coffin. Laying there dead, eyes closed. Rachmaninoff was horrified. He wanted to run. Oh what was he to do, run away, or continually stare at his dead body. The more he looked, the more he felt himself break down, he looked at his hand as his skin started to fade away, into grew dust, he saw his own skeleton. Everyone stood there watching in horror as he screamed in agony. "I wasn't ready to die!" He screamed and cried as he slowly turned into dust. Just then he woke up in his bed screaming. Realizing what just happened he calmed down as his breath slowed down, slowly until he went back to sleep.

This piece has taken me years to master. It is one of the most gratifying songs that you can play on the piano.

This is one of the best performances i have heard in my life. KEEP GOING

*1806 composers: i hope people remember us and remember our music..* *2019 people: People arguing whether lizst or chopin has harder music*

Who else got goosebumps at 2:09

KZfaq debería tener un botón que diga "Me encanta". Maravillosa interpretación. Saludos desde Uruguay.

I was getting the chills while listening to this song from start to end. Your piano playing is so good. Subscribed. :]

The part at 2:08 is the most terrifying thing I've ever heard played on piano.

Can we talk a moment about how emotionally draining this piece can be to learn. The dynamics are all over the place.

The speed.... Have gotten to 1:53 now. To practice just a single second of this takes enourmous time. Great respect to those who have mastered this piece, not to speak of many of the other mesmerizing pieces by Rach

Absolutely breathtaking! Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C-sharp minor" is a true masterpiece that never fails to leave me in awe. The emotion and passion conveyed through the piano is truly captivating, and the virtuosity of the piece is simply incredible. Thank you for sharing this gem of a video, it's a true joy to listen to.

This is one of those pieces where I think I can play it, but when I start to; I can’t

Right now I'm listening to this piece in a train and I feel like it's going to be my best day if I can arrive the next station.

There's something so satisfying about 2:07 with 10 notes played at the same time

That's so magnificent! Thank you for sharing your interpretation of this work by Rachmaninoff.

Everyone: analysing the piece and talking about it's deep themes. Me: just want to learn it so i can scare people while talking to them.

Imagine this piece being played at a public piano in the railway I’d sure get terrified to go inside the train

Ahh I have been searching for this piece for years! Finally. Wow

Хвала за предивно извођење, улепшали сте ми петак. Тек сам Вас сад открила, али радујем се и даље сваком понедељку.

I’ve been practicing this piece for few months now for a concert in September, I keep doing mistakes and I am so nervous. Bravo to all the pianists who played this wonderful piece👌🏽

Me: I could totally play this, its all chords. 1:26 Me: . . . oh no.

A beautiful piece. Delicate, mournful and even a bit nostalgic.

That was incredible Really nice

it looks like his thumbs are fencing 0:36

2:08 Breaking News: Origin of the beat drop has been discovered!

L'arte di comunicare....la classe innata...le melodie con le prestigiose note sempre contemporanee.Roussou...e il mito continua.Ascolto con passione...grazie!

this is one of the most awesome pieces i've ever heard

The first ever metal song

I played piano for 10 years, stopping before I started college. This was by far my favorite song to play.

shivers up and down my spine, visuals are adding even more to the experience, wow

one of the greatest compositions of all time my love for rach will never fade away.

this beat drop makes me feel like an evil anime character

The fact that I know someone who can play this is insane. The skill this person must possess. Blows my mind away.

Perhaps the most eerily beautiful pieces of music ever written… so fantastic

This piece really is something, I discovered Rachmaninoff with it and instantly felt in love, what a great pianist he was !

What's worse... 1920: Rachmaninoff dream 2020: Coffin dance

I know a lot of people are commenting that this is being played too fast, which is true, but personally I think it sounds amazing. Where the original piece to me sounds very eerie and scary even, the way Rousseau is playing it feels so much more oppressive, like someone drowing under the weight of all their personal demons. Amazing job, as always

My favorite piano piece

Thank you upload this video.I like Rachmaninoff's play,and this performance is so insane.

Feels the intensity of it....... And now knowing the back story wtf

This is a tale. A sad tale. Turns into anger. Rage. Then acceptance. Then into surrender.

amazing work

I first heard this when I was a 9 year old kid, and it haunted me all my life. The irony is that I heard it being played on a children's record called Sparky's Magic Piano! So this is nostalgic as well as being powerfully emotional. ♥

Who else got chills once those red notes hit? Oh my....those chords are just so....how would you describe them?

For 3 minutes and 52 seconds my life was amazing Now back to quarantine...

man those notes in red, i felt those vibrations deep in my soul

I just started playing the piano and my goal is too one day play this piece , Thank you Rousseau for showing me this masterpiece .

Guys, im at 1:36 i have alot to go 😭😭 Edit: I'm at 1:43 now 😬 still have plenty to go 2nd Edit: At 1:54 now, it's a bit tough but I won't give up.💪 March 11, 3rd Edit: Finally at 2:08😰 Now it's time to release terror😈 March 27, 4th Edit: I have officially completed this piece. It's tough for me but I've managed to learn the entire thing. FOR EVERYONE LEARNING THIS PIECE, YOU CAN DO IT!!! I BELIEVE!! Update July 28, 2021: lol so uh, I forgot how to play it now bc I didn't practice for a full month😐(don't stop practicing, people)

The piece hits completly different when u know the backstory of his creation

Such a great finish love this piece

Bravo! Superb performance!

If I were a villain in a movie, this would be my entering theme song.

I like how the colors change from insomnia yellow to disappointing-your-parents red.

love ur stuff dude!

Ohhhh the change to red was perfect!