Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 02/22/2005, uploaded on 01/17/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Twelve Etudes, Op. 8         Alexander Scriabin

The Russian composer and pianist Alexander Scriabin is undoubtedly among the most fascinating and unusual figures in the history of music.  His remarkable compositional career, which began in a Romantic and Chopinesque style and ended in a modern and highly individual one, has inspired an almost cult-like following.  In his three sets of Etudes, Op. 8, 42 and 65, Scriabin explored new facets of modern pianism which demand a highly developed sense of sonority and sure control of polyrhythms, such as in the simultaneous use of triple and duple beat subdivision.

The Twelve Etudes, Op. 8, were composed in 1894 and revised several times before publication.  The tonal language is still fairly traditional, but already displays traces of the originality and frenetic energy evident in later works.  Most of the pieces make great demands on the pianist's technique, and were perhaps intended as a vehicle through which Scriabin could display his own remarkable pianistic gifts. No. 2 in f-sharp minor pits five against three.  No. 3 in b minor offers tempestuous octaves and chords, and two-against-three beats. No. 5 in E Major is a favorite with sonorous octaves and quick chords. No. 9 in c-sharp minor, marked Alla ballata, is another fine octave study. No. 10 in D-flat Major is a famous study in major thirds and left-hand skips.  No. 12 in d-sharp minor, marked Patetico, closes out the set in a broad, declamatory style with bravura and élan.   Jason Peterson

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.