Piano Sonata No. 8 (Scriabin)
The Piano Sonata No. 8,
Structure and content
The eighth sonata consists of a single movement, and performances range from 10 minutes (Michael Ponti) to 18 1/2 minutes (Vladimir Stoupel).
- Lento - Allegro agitato
This work is regarded as one of Scriabin's most difficult pieces. It is the longest of Scriabin's sonatas by pages, and many passages are written on three and four
The eighth sonata begins with almost disquieting placidity as a series of muted bell-like chords are sounded. This languid episode deciduates quite quickly into passages of agitated energy. There are none of the characteristic instructions common in Scriabin's other late sonatas. [2] The furthest he goes is the word "Tragique" to indicate moments of distressed apathy and futility. In other respects, this is one of Scriabin's more formally experimental sonatas. It is rather episodic, with passages appearing at times to be sewn together almost arbitrarily, like the "presto" section which begins with staccato chords 'bouncing away' from the previous theme. There are definite moments of serenity (indeed this is the prevailing mood of the sonata), but a large portion of the music seems urgent and fervid. The composer Boris Asafiev argued that the themes in the piece represent natural elements [3]
Like his
Notes
- ^ a b "Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 66 | Details". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c "Alexander Scriabin: The Piano Sonatas". Scriabin: The Piano Sonatas (CD liner). Vladimir Ashkenazy. Decca. 1997. p. 6.
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: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Piano Sonata No 8, Op 66 (Scriabin) - from CDA67131/2 - Hyperion Records - MP3 and Lossless downloads".
Further reading
- Scriabin, Alexander. Complete Piano Sonatas. 1964 Muzyka score republished in 1988 by New York: ISBN 0-486-25850-5.
External links
- Sonata No. 8 (Scriabin): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project