Six Moments musicaux, Op. 16

Composer: RACHMANINOV, Sergei
  • Written in 1896, Six Moments musicaux is a set of six works for solo piano, each with a distinct musical character (some noted below):
    1. Andantino (nocturne)
    2. Allegretto
    3. Andante cantabile (funeral march)
    4. Presto
    5. Adagio sostenuto (berceuse)
    6. Maestoso1
  • The inspiration for Six Moments musicaux seems to have been a practical one – 23-year-old Rachmaninov needed money, and publishing short works for piano was a decent method to obtain some.2

Sources

  1. “Moments musicaux, Op.16 (Rachmaninoff, Sergei),” IMSLP, accessed January 20, 2026, https://imslp.org/wiki/Moments_musicaux,_Op.16_(Rachmaninoff,_Sergei).
  2. Dominik Rahmer, “Preface: Six Moments musicaux op. 16,” G. Henle Verlag, accessed January 20, 2026, https://www.henle.de/us/Six-Moments-musicaux-op.-16/HN-1492.

Cut IDs

27905 27906 27907 45350 27908 27909 27910