Isle of the Dead (Rachmaninoff)

The piece was inspired by a black and white reproduction of Arnold Böcklin's painting Isle of the Dead, which he saw in Paris in 1907.

For two years, Rachmaninoff looked for inspiration for a symphonic poem, and in November 1906, he wrote to his friend Nikita Morozov, seeking ideas for a subject for such a work, but was uninspired by his suggestions.

[4] Before recording the piece in April 1929, Rachmaninoff made significant cuts to the work, removing 62 bars in total,[7][8] and in January 1930 wrote to the publishing director Gavriil Paichadze that he wanted to implement several further cuts and revisions in a new revision of the work.

Rachmaninoff uses a recurring figure in 5/8 time to depict what may be the rowing of the oarsman or the movement of the water, and as in several other of his works, quotes the Dies Irae plainchant, an allusion to death.

This recording was made in the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, using one microphone, and was later reissued on LP and CD by RCA Victor.