Scriabin conceived a new musical language at the same time that Schoenberg was launching his twelve-tone system and Debussy his distinctive coloristic approach. Scriabin’s new language of mysticism was well-established by the time of his Sonata No. 4 of 1903. His biographer, Leonid Sabaneyev, lists the imprints of Scriabin’s works as: “affected tragedy, pathos, broken rhythms in which one feels a fearsome nervosity, eroticism, indisputable strength and color, refinement and elegance.” All those qualities are revealed in the Fourth Sonata. His wide exploration of the keyboard is furthered in the elusively playful Prestissimo volando, which follows without interruption from the Andante. Playfulness fades, however, in its demanding and powerful conclusion. The “volando” marking refers to the swift and fleeting quality of this remarkable movement. Notes by Fei-Fei Dong
Classical Music | Piano Music
Alexander Scriabin
Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30 Play
Recorded on 07/22/2015, uploaded on 04/17/2016
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Scriabin conceived a new musical language at the same time that Schoenberg was launching his twelve-tone system and Debussy his distinctive coloristic approach. Scriabin’s new language of mysticism was well-established by the time of his Sonata No. 4 of 1903. His biographer, Leonid Sabaneyev, lists the imprints of Scriabin’s works as: “affected tragedy, pathos, broken rhythms in which one feels a fearsome nervosity, eroticism, indisputable strength and color, refinement and elegance.” All those qualities are revealed in the Fourth Sonata. His wide exploration of the keyboard is furthered in the elusively playful Prestissimo volando, which follows without interruption from the Andante. Playfulness fades, however, in its demanding and powerful conclusion. The “volando” marking refers to the swift and fleeting quality of this remarkable movement. Notes by Fei-Fei Dong
More music by Alexander Scriabin
Etude No. 12 in d-sharp minor Op. 8
Prelude Op 11 N° 4
Prelude Op 16 N° 4
Etude No. 12 in d-sharp minor, Op. 8
"Three Etudes" op. 65, no.3
Prelude Op.11, No.1
Etude in d-sharp minor, Op. 8 No. 12
Étude in C-sharp minor, Op. 2, No. 1
Prelude Op.11, No.14
Etude in c-sharp minor, Op. 2, No. 1
Performances by same musician(s)
Sonata in F-Sharp minor, Op. 25, No. 5
Rondo in E-flat Major, Op.16
Gargoyles, Op. 29
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.