Mozart Lacrimosa Requiem in D Minor K626 (Martha Yudina) Saltykov Transcription (Score)

The first thing that one will notice when they listen to this, especially if they have listen to the original Lacrimosa, is the slower tempo, which contrasts to the faster tempo that Mozart wrote for this piece. The slower tempo is the biggest reason why this interpretation is my favourite. It allows everything, the piano, piece, to breathe and makes the listener rather emotional. It adds more sadness and power.
Immediately following the introduction, the next part is played with stellar voicing and ths age of this recording makes the piano cry along with the listener (if you do). The bass notes throughout the piece have varying dynamics and when they do get louder it leaves a pounding emotional intensity. 3:26 is the most profound example and is a intense crescendo which can be a shock. They sound very deep at 1:54, the base notes, and there are many cases where she plays where she plays them lower. The treble clef she also adjusts them higher or lower like at 3:58, 4:02, 4;10, 4:12, etc. On a side note, I am wondering why the end of the piece ends with a D, when it would sound complete with a G chord. It is probably how this piece was written.


In this performance she pours her heart and soul, and this is an interpretation of someone who has suffered under the stalinist regime, and woman who lived in poverty throughout her life. There was a commenter (stano.7855) on the original video of this recording who said that “That is an interpretation of the person who knew and saw the bad sides of life. She went through a lot still remaining herself.”

“She was indifferent to pain and would practise until the whole keyboard was stained with blood from her fingertips.” (Spectator.co.uk/article/playing-until-her-fingers-bled-the-dedication-of-the-pianist-maria-yudina/)






Recording used: SALTYKOV Transcription, which in my opinion is superior to Liszt. One of the most haunting and deep masterpieces ever written, and my favourite mozart piece.

BTW, sorry for the low quality sheet music. I could NOT find any complete music for this specific rare transcription which is very weird so I had to copy it from another video here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AHj5fVbNc5c

This is the ORIGINAL RECORDING USED:

https://youtu.be/cVP6uWKBMbk?si=JCQZoZeF1EhQ-1rt

I do not own the audio to this recording.