Alexander Nikolayevitch Scriabin (1872-1915), Russian composer and
pianist, is best known for his perfectly spun miniatures where his novel
harmonic and pianistic ideas were most brilliantly worked out. This
volume in Dover's continuing series of musical scores presents the best
of Scriabin's works, his complete etudes and preludes for the solo
piano.
There are the Chopinesque works from his early period, including the 12
etudes from Op. 8 and the 24 Preludes, Op. 11. The works of the middle
period, when he began working out his new harmonies based on a series of
fourths, include the outstanding sets of Preludes, Opp. 33 and 48, and
the Etudes, Op. 42. The 5 Preludes, Op. 74, and the Etudes, Op. 65, from
the final period reveal perhaps most about his joyous ecstasy and
languid contemplation, moods which no other composer could express to
such a degree. There are also the preludes and etudes from Opp. 2, 9,
13, 15, 16, 17, 22, 27, 31, 35, 37, 39, 45, 49, 51, 59, and 67, each
containing miniatures working out some subtle harmonic, rhythmic, or
melodic idea with a perfect pianistic sense of writing.
This book has been especially designed as a playing edition ― the
noteheads are large and easily readable at the piano, and the margins
and spaces between staves are adequate for written notes, fingerings,
and turnovers. It is also most useful for analysis, or simply for
following along with the actual music.
