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Topic: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character  (Read 1552 times)

Offline alzado

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Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
on: February 21, 2006, 06:14:55 PM
A reference to one of Scriabin's "mystical" pieces in another recent post puts me in mind of a question for the forum.

In addition to some of  Scriabin's piano pieces, the Rosicrucian piano pieces of Erik Satie come to mind -- I have played several of these pieces.

Can anyone suggest any other "mystical" piano repertoire  -- where the composer is suggesting he has had some eldrich vision, or perhaps links his composition to a mystical cult or an arcane sect? 

I believe Mozart's The Magic Flute would even qualify, though of course not a piano composition.  Wasn't that somehow linked to the "secret lore" of the Freemasons?

Offline thalbergmad

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #1 on: February 21, 2006, 06:26:54 PM
Well Debussy was supposedly a Grand Master of the Priory de Sion, so it could be his music had some "mystical" meaning.
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Offline prometheus

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #2 on: February 21, 2006, 06:29:26 PM
Priory de Sion was a hoax. :)
"As an artist you don't rake in a million marks without performing some sacrifice on the Altar of Art." -Franz Liszt

Offline hodi

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #3 on: February 21, 2006, 06:55:00 PM
alkan's compositions are quiet mystical... as well as anton rubinstein ones.

Offline g_s_223

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #4 on: February 21, 2006, 07:40:47 PM
The 20th century English composer Cyril Scott was interested in mystical matters, and also wrote several piano works which have been recorded. More about him at: https://www.britishclassicalmusic.com/scott.html .

The pianist Busoni's opera Doktor Faustus is highly mystical in places.

Ravel's Gaspard is pretty spooky in places.

Offline thalbergmad

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #5 on: February 21, 2006, 08:05:25 PM
Priory de Sion was a hoax. :)

Thanks, I am going to cancel my subscription immediately.
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Offline ahinton

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #6 on: February 21, 2006, 08:43:08 PM
Thanks, I am going to cancel my subscription immediately.
Your subscription to what, exactly?...

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Alistair
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Offline thalbergmad

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #7 on: February 21, 2006, 09:17:35 PM
Your subscription to what, exactly?...

Best,

Alistair

I will open a seperate thread in the anything but piano section on the Priory.
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Offline pita bread

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Re: Compositions of Mystical or Arcane Character
Reply #8 on: February 22, 2006, 01:16:03 AM
Messiaen and Scriabin were both mystics.
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