I'll let Rousseau tell the story: "Sometimes it's hard to believe that Rachmaninoff was only 18 when he composed this piece. For those that don't know the story behind it: it is said that Rachmaninoff had a dream where he was at a funeral, and in the distance was a coffin. At [measure 16] begins walking towards it, faster and faster. At [measure 46] he opens it and... finds himself inside."