Most Accessible Scriabin Sonata?

[odsum25]

What is the most acccessible Scriabin Sonata from a technical standpoint?  Musical standpoint?  Overall most accessible?

[quantum]

These are just guesses as I've only played No.5

No. 9 from a technical standpoint
No. 1 from a musical standpoint


So how hard is No. 5?  Well, it took me 7 months to learn and get in some decent performable state. 

My advise is go with the one you like.  Which one are you contemplating?

[Nightscape]

Here's my take on them.

Musicality (from easiest to hardest - pertains to how difficult it is to make a quality interpretation of the piece, making it presentable and coherent to an audience, also memorization and harmonic issues)

Sonata 1
Sonata 3
Sonata 4
Sonata 2
Sonata 9
Sonata 5
Sonata 6
Sonata 10
Sonata 7
Sonata 8

Technicality (How complex rhythmically they are, notes per measure, velocity, finger dexterity , again from easiest to hardest)

Sonata 9
Sonata 4 (pretty close to 9)
Sonata 10
Sonata 2
Sonata 1
Sonata 3
Sonata 5
Sonata 8 (pretty close to 5)
Sonata 6
Sonata 7


So Overall, this is my (subjective) order of the comparative difficulty of the sonatas (from easiest to hardest):

Sonata 4
Sonata 9
Sonata 1
Sonata 2
Sonata 3
Sonata 5
Sonata 10
Sonata 6
Sonata 8
Sonata 7


So, why don't you learn the 4th sonata then?  It's very beautiful, and certainly a crowd-pleaser.

[BoliverAllmon]

great post.

[rachmaninoff_969]

I second the great post comment...THAT HELPED ME CHOOSE AS WELL! 

[steinwayguy]

I've always heard 9 and 10 are the hardest with 2 the easiest.

[Nightscape]

You may be right in that 9 and 10 have the most musical and spiritual depth to them (I would also include number 8 in league with them), but they are much more straightfoward and written in a manner that is more comfortable and easier for the pianist to grasp than some of the other sonatas.

Case in point..... something like Debussy's prelude "Des pas sur la niege" may be quite simple to play, although to convey true meaning and to really connect with the piece is quite a challenge only the most formidable pianists can tackle.

[chelsey]

How do these sonatas compare in difficulty to Beethoven's Sonatas or Chopin's Etudes? I realize music of this nature is incomparable in most actualities, but suppose I have some experience with this period of music (including studying of some preludes and an etude of Scriabin). I have listened to recordings of some (though not all), however I have not yet had the opportunity to examine the scores, but I was wondering if one of these might be a possibility for my freshman repetoire next fall..or perhaps a few more years' experience would be best.

Thanks..
Chelsey

[quantum]

How do these sonatas compare in difficulty to Beethoven's Sonatas or Chopin's Etudes? I realize music of this nature is incomparable in most actualities, but suppose I have some experience with this period of music (including studying of some preludes and an etude of Scriabin). I have listened to recordings of some (though not all), however I have not yet had the opportunity to examine the scores, but I was wondering if one of these might be a possibility for my freshman repetoire next fall..or perhaps a few more years' experience would be best.

Thanks..
Chelsey

I've found that delving into Scriabin, especially the later works, is a whole entire world in itself.  The best way learn Scriabin is to play Scriabin.  That said, what pieces are you working on right now?

[chelsey]

I've found that delving into Scriabin, especially the later works, is a whole entire world in itself.  The best way learn Scriabin is to play Scriabin.  That said, what pieces are you working on right now?

Current pieces under my teacher:
Beethoven's Sonata Op110, Chopin's Ballade in Ab (No. 3), a 20th Century piece by Alexina Louie "I Leap through Skies with Stars" (Messaiean sounding influence)

I'm not delving into a lot with her now because she expects I'll be choosing new repetoire with my university instructor when I begin my freshmen year as a piano major in a couple months. I just want to get a couple ideas to put forth when I arrive in the fall.

[quantum]

I'd say some of the sonatas are within your reach.  If you haven't done Scriabin before, I'd suggest doing an Etude or other small piece to get a handle on Scriabin's harmonic language before tackeling a sonata.   

If you do start a sonata, give yourself lots of time and don't expect it to be playable right away. 

Looking back on when I was learning the 5th Sonata, I would probably give an analogy similar to reading your first Shakespearian play:  It's in English, but how the words are arranged isn't what you're used to, some looking between the lines will eventually clear things up. 

[chelsey]

So far I've only done a couple of preludes from the Op. 11 which I adored. I think I'm going to look at some etudes this summer and see how things go in the fall :-) Thanks for the advice.

Chelsey

[quantum]

Another thing I forgot to add.  When choosing your smaller pieces also keep in mind the sonata you would like to learn, and choose pieces that were written around the same time period or style.  Remember that Scriabin produced a wide diversity of different styles and ideas in the music depending on when it was composed. 

Also a quick dive into a book or two describing the pieces would also help you understand what ideas Scriabin had in his head when he wrote his music.