Piano Concerto (Scriabin)
The Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20, is an early work of the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915) composed in 1896. Written when he was 24, it was his first work for orchestra and is the only concerto that he wrote. Scriabin completed the concerto in only a few days in the fall of 1896, but didn't finish the orchestration until the following May and did not premiere the work until October 23, 1897.
Typical of his early works, the concerto recalls the lyricism of Chopin. However, Scriabin's orchestra takes a much more active and partner-like role than Chopin allowed it in his concertos. Furthermore, the intricate polyrythms, the long and chromatic melodic lines, the delicately dissonant chords and the emotional climaxes, all contribute to the melancholic 'Russian' mood, and make it one of Scriabin's masterpieces.
The concerto is relatively short but technically demanding, with large and rapid arpeggios and chordal passage work. The frequent changes in rhythm and tempo, and the delicate interplay between orchestra and soloist, require more than superficial rehearsals before execution. This may explain for the fact that, despite the popularity of Scriabin's other works for piano, the concerto is rarely programmed in the concert hall.[citation needed]
Contents |
[edit] Composition
The work consists of three movements, typically lasting about 28 minutes in total:
[edit] Allegro
The main theme is introduced by the piano and then transferred to the orchestra while the piano accompanies in octaves. Typical of Scriabin's style, the phrases are lengthy and the melodies tend to be very chromatic; syncopation and polyrhythm feature prominently.
[edit] Andante
The second movement begins in the key of F-sharp major. This movement is unusual in that it is in the form of theme and variations. The orchestra introduces the theme. The piano enters with the first variation, accompanying the orchestra's theme with arpeggios in shifting polyrhythms. The second variation is faster, marked allegro scherzando, containing octave leaps in the left hand. The third variation is a slow funeral march. The fourth variation is marked allegretto and features intricate ornamentation; the clarinet introduces the melody, and interweaves counterpoint with the soloist. The movement ends with return of the theme to the orchestra, almost identical to the first variation.
[edit] Allegro moderato
A quick movement in rondo form, with a development of the theme of the first movement. The first theme is condensed into the first two bars followed by a virtuosic arpeggio that flies up to the high end of the piano and back, and which frequently returns with subtle variations, which are technically difficult for the pianist but hard to hear for the audience, unless a note is missed. The second theme is a song without words.
[edit] Recordings
[edit] External links
- Pianopedia, Alexander Scriabin, Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor
- Piano Concerto (Scriabin): Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
