Composer

:

Alexander Scriabin

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Sonata

Compose Date

:

1912 - 1913

Average_duration

:

8:34

Alexander Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 9, Op. 68, also known as the "Black Mass" Sonata, was composed in 1912 and premiered in Moscow the same year. The sonata is divided into four movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, marked "Allegro," begins with a dark and ominous theme in the left hand, which is then joined by a frenzied and dissonant melody in the right hand. The music builds in intensity, with the two hands engaging in a frenetic dialogue, before reaching a climax and abruptly ending. The second movement, marked "Andante," is a stark contrast to the first. It is a lyrical and introspective piece, with a haunting melody in the right hand accompanied by a simple and repetitive left-hand pattern. The music gradually builds in intensity before subsiding into a quiet and contemplative ending. The third movement, marked "Presto," is a virtuosic tour-de-force. It is a fast and furious piece, with a relentless and driving rhythm in the left hand and a dazzling display of technical fireworks in the right hand. The music reaches a fever pitch before coming to an abrupt halt. The final movement, marked "Lento," is a return to the introspective mood of the second movement. It is a slow and mournful piece, with a simple and plaintive melody in the right hand accompanied by a gentle and flowing left-hand accompaniment. The music gradually builds in intensity before reaching a climax and then fading away into silence. The "Black Mass" Sonata is characterized by its dark and brooding atmosphere, its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, and its virtuosic and technically demanding piano writing. It is considered one of Scriabin's most challenging and complex works, and is a testament to his unique and visionary approach to music.

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