Vocalise, No. 14 of 14 Romances, Op. 34. by Sergei Rachmaninoff(1 April 1873 – 28 March 1943)

Vocalise is a song composed by Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff, as the last of his 14 Songs or 14 Romances, Op. 34.(1912), but published in 1915. It was dedicated to soprano singer Antonina Nezhdanova.

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The Song / Music

Sergei Rachmaninoff composed 14 Songs (or 14 Romances, Op. 34) in 1912, with the famous final song added later in 1915. It contains no words and is sung on a single vowel. 

Although the original publication stipulates that the song may be sung by either soprano or tenor voice, it is usually performed by a soprano. And it is often played as an instrumental piece by orchestras or solo instruments like the cello or violin instead of being sung.