Alexander Scriabin (jan 1, 1871 – jan 1, 1915)
Description:
a Russian composer and pianist.Scriabin: From Expression to Revelation
1. Maximalism in Russia reached its height with Scriabin.
2. He traveled extensively in Western Europe and the United States, and showed no interest Russia folk music.
3. Scriabin was involved “mystical symbolist” groups, avant-garde theology, and joined the theosophy movement.
a. Theosophy seeks to bring together Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
4. Scriabin’s early music is mostly for piano—not surprising, as he was a child prodigy.
5. Scriabin’s music moved from mystical (sometimes sublime) to revelation.
6. His symphonies show a penchant for maximalism in the same vein as Strauss and
Mahler.
7. Scriabin moved away from the diatonic scale (which represents the known human world), although the circle of fifths and other remnants of tonality remain in some ways.
8. Vers la flamme (1914) is a late work that depicts Scriabin’s juxtaposition of harmony
with visionary aspirations.
Key term:
theosophy: seeks to bring together Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
aggregate harmony: a chord containing all 12 notes of the scale
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1871
jan 1, 1915
~ 44 years