R: Rachmaninov

The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by Rachmaninov is a major work in Russian Church music - a glorious piece of music. This recording, by the Kansas City Chorale, is astonishing and regarded as one of the great performances of this work.

We find it a wonderful way to begin a Sunday morning.

A long time ago I was on the periphery of a...discussion...as to whether a {insert your favorite classical composer} would be able to write anything as good as {insert your favorite classic rock composer/performer}. The contention on one side was that silly, simple melodies were easy but beneath the "masters". The opposing view held that to write something that caught the ear needed a talent beyond/not possessed by creators of "long hair music".

Given the hairstyles of many of the classic rock composers/singers, I've always been amused by such a description of classical music composers. But I digress.

Years later I discovered the connection between a song, "All By Myself" - a song of such melancholy that, of course it couldn't fail to appeal to me, and the 2nd. movement of Rachmaninov's 2nd. piano concerto.

The music for the verses of the song is directly from Rachmaninov's work - the very notes if I'm not mistaken.

So, the...discussion...is over. The answer is "Yes".