Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was a Russian composer and pianist. He wrote piano
concertos, sonatas and a number of piano pieces which emphasise the percussive aspects
of piano tone.
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was a Russian/American composer and pianist of the
late romantic period; his piano concertos are among the most-loved of the repertoire with
their broad melodies and warm harmonies; a number of his preludes and other piano
pieces are also enduringly popular.
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was a French composer and pianist; he is said to be of the
‘impressionist’ period but this is a misnomer because, if Debussy was a master of
watercolour, Ravel was a master of etching; Ravel was not a prolific composer but all his
compositions are popular; he is noted for his Piano Concerto in G, and for his Sonatina,
Gaspard de la Nuit, Alborada del Gracioso and Pavane pour une Enfante Defunte.
Julius Reubke (1834-1858) was a German pianist, organist and composer; he arrived at
Weimar in 1856, recommended to Liszt by Bülow; there he wrote and performed his
massive piano sonata in B flat minor, which was influenced by the Sonata in B minor by
Liszt to whom it is dedicated; Reubke’s piano sonata is in one movement, with a central
Andante maestoso and a scherzo (allegro agitato) recapitulation, and was published after
his early death; Reubke also wrote and performed an organ sonata.
Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894) was a Russian composer and pianist of Geman Jewish
extraction; he was a prolific composer of piano music and his fourth piano concerto is
still occasionally heard.
Erik Satie (1866-1925) was an eccentric French composer and pianist; his Gymnopédies
and Gnossiennes are among his most popular piano pieces.
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) was an Italian composer of the baroque period and was
influential in the development of the classical style; he wrote numerous sonatas for the
harpsichord which are often heard these days on the harpsichord and on the piano.
Xaver Scharwenka (1850-1924) was a Polish composer and pianist of the romantic era.
His Polish Dances used to be extremely popular, but overall his piano concertos and solo
piano works have not withstood the ravages of time.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) was an Austrian/American composer and leader of the
Second Viennese School, the other members being Alban Berg and Anton Webern; he
was a proponent of the twelve-tone technique and wrote a number of piano pieces.
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was an Austrian composer of the classical period with
leanings to the romantic idiom; his compositions are characterised by a strong melodic
gift and rich harmonies; his Impromptus and Moments Musicaux for piano have always
been very popular and his piano sonatas are also popular.