Caprice Bohémien

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Caprice Bohémian, Op. 12 is a symphonic poem for full orchestra composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Being in the earlier stages of Rachmaninoff's compositions (especially for orchestra); the piece consists of many immense moments played in full a tutti: the same bombastic nature that critics would lambast with his next composition, Symphony No. 1 in D Minor. Caprice Bohémian, though, was much better received than his first symphony, which was a total failure at launch and wouldn't gain much recognition until after the composer's death.

[edit] Overview

The work is based as a "fantasy on Gypsy themes" and reflects the various lifestyles of a gypsy. After a very short percussion entrance, the piece begins with a progression of slow and dramatic chords voiced by the low woodwinds and eventually mirrored by the low brass. After the introduction, a short interlude by high winds brings the piece to a large outburst from the strings- a theme which will be echoed various times throughout the piece. The middle of the piece is dreary and long drawn-out, being orchestrated as "lugubrious". In the last several minutes of the capriccio, which is ~20 minutes total length, the orchestra rebuilds to several loud and powerful themes. The idea of a gypsy's pleasures in life is shown with the wondrous and lively ending sequence. After a short and powerful respite in B minor, the composition ends quickly and lively once more- finishing in a blaring E Major chord.