Composer

:

Alexander Scriabin

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude

Compose Date

:

1903

Average_duration

:

1:22

Alexander Scriabin's Prelude for piano in C major, Op. 31/4, was composed in 1903 and premiered the same year in Moscow. The piece is part of a set of 24 preludes, each in a different key, that Scriabin composed between 1895 and 1914. The Prelude in C major is a short, lively piece that showcases Scriabin's unique harmonic language and virtuosic piano writing. The piece is in ternary form, with a fast and energetic outer section surrounding a slower, more lyrical middle section. The opening measures of the piece feature a series of ascending arpeggios that quickly establish the C major tonality. Scriabin then introduces a playful, syncopated melody that is passed between the hands. The melody is characterized by its use of chromaticism and unexpected harmonic shifts, which give the piece a sense of unpredictability and excitement. The middle section of the Prelude is marked by a sudden change in tempo and mood. Here, Scriabin introduces a new melody that is more lyrical and introspective than the opening theme. The harmonies in this section are more complex and dissonant, creating a sense of tension and unease. After a brief return to the opening material, the piece concludes with a virtuosic coda that features rapid arpeggios and cascading runs up and down the keyboard. The final chords of the piece are marked by Scriabin's signature use of the "mystic chord," a chord made up of stacked fourths that he believed had mystical properties. Overall, Scriabin's Prelude in C major is a masterful example of his unique style, which combined elements of Romanticism, impressionism, and his own personal mysticism.

More....