The Alexander Scriabin companion : history, performance, and lore

Description

This unique collaboration between a musicologist and two pianists ? all experts in Russian music ? takes a fresh look at the supercharged music and polarizing reception of the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin. From his Chopin-inspired miniatures to his genre-bending symphonies and avant-garde late works, Scriabin left a unique mark on music history. Scriabin?s death centennial in 2015 brought wider exposure and renewed attention to this pioneering composer. Music lovers who are curious about Scriabin have been torn between specialized academic studies and popular sources that glamorize his interests and activities, often at the expense of historical accuracy. This book bridges the divide between these two branches of literature, and brings a modern perspective to his music and legacy. Drawing on archival materials, primary sources in Russian, and recently published books and articles, Part One details the reception and performance history of Scriabin?s solo piano and orchestral music. High quality recordings are recommended for each piece. Part Two explores four topics in Scriabin?s reception: the myths generated by Scriabin?s biographers, his claims to synaesthesia or ?color-hearing,? his revival in 1960s America as a proto-Flower Child, and the charges of anti-Russianness leveled against his music. Part Three investigates stylistic context and performance practice in the piano music, and considers the domains of sound, rhythm, and harmony. It offers interpretive strategies for deciphering Scriabin?s challenging scores at the keyboard. Students, scholars, and music enthusiasts will benefit from the historical insights offered in this interdisciplinary book. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be able to better appreciate the stylistic innovations and colorful imagination of this extraordinary composer.  Read more... Foreword by Stephen Hough CHAPTER ONE - En Garde or Avant-Garde? Exploding the Scriabin Myth- John Bell Young PART I ENCOUNTERING SCRIABIN- Lincoln Ballard CHAPTER TWO - Life, Legacy, and MusicCHAPTER THREE - The Solo Piano MusicCHAPTER FOUR - Symphonies and Orchestral WorksPART II TOPICS IN RECEPTION HISTORY- Lincoln Ballard CHAPTER FIVE - Madness and Other MythsCHAPTER SIX - On Synaesthesia or "Color-Hearing"CHAPTER SEVEN - Scriabin's Russian Roots and the Symbolist AestheticCHAPTER EIGHT - The Revival in 1960s AmericaPART III IN PERFORMANCE - Matthew BengtsonCHAPTER NINE - From Musical Text to the ImaginationCHAPTER TEN - TechniqueCHAPTER ELEVEN - Line and MelodyCHAPTER TWELVE - HarmonyCHAPTER THIRTEEN - The Scriabin SoundCHAPTER FOURTEEN - RhythmGlossary and Pronunciation Guide