Alexander Scriabin

(1872-1915)
(Scree-ah-bin)

Alexander Scriabin was a virtuoso pianist and composer. His early works were in a romantic style and largely influenced by the piano compositions of Frédéric Chopin. Scriabin’s later music was much more dissonant and used outside influences, including his religious and spiritual ideas and synesthesia. People with synesthesia associate an unrelated idea with a sensory experience. One of the most common, and the type Scriabin had, is a correlation between notes and colors where the person visualizes each note with a different color. Scriabin was very controversial during his lifetime, people either thought his music was amazing and that he was a genius or thought he had completely crazy ideas. One of his symphonic works includes a part for “color organ” which played like a piano but projected colored light when the keys were depressed, giving the audience a synesthesia experience. His later works were often grandiose, often intended as multimedia presentations including not only music, but art, dance, light, and scent to create an immersive experience. Almost all of his compositions are for solo piano or orchestra. After his death, Scriabin’s music quickly fell from favor; however, in the past few years more people have become interested in his unique musical voice.

Important Works

• Piano sonatas

• Poem of Ecstasy

• Vers la flamme

• Prometheus: The Poem of Fire

• Piano Concerto

Further Listening