Scriabin 4

[mikey6]

Does anyone know if there is, or what is the extra musical meaning behind this piece?

[crazy for ivan moravec]

before i try to do some research, why do u ask? (just asking)

[superstition2]

Does anyone know if there is, or what is the extra musical meaning behind this piece?

I don't think so. In fact, the 3rd sonata also was not programmatic until many years after it was composed, when Scriabin began to assign it programmatic meaning. At one point, he refered to it as a ruined castle, and after that he gave it a specific program: Soul States.

Although Scriabin didn't assign programmatic meaning to the 4th, I'd say it's sex. The first movement is foreplay. The second is the act, ending in orgasm. Robert Taub does an especially good job making the climax enjoyable, without the bounciness of Laredo and perhaps Ashkenazy. Sofronitsky, from what I recall, is too harsh and misses the sexual nature of the piece.

[mikey6]

before i try to do some research, why do u ask? (just asking)

Playing it for my masters recital and need to try and link it somehow to my other works - was thiking 'extra musical meanings'.

I don't think so. In fact, the 3rd sonata also was not programmatic until many years after it was composed, when Scriabin began to assign it programmatic meaning. At one point, he refered to it as a ruined castle, and after that he gave it a specific program: Soul States.

Although Scriabin didn't assign programmatic meaning to the 4th, I'd say it's sex. The first movement is foreplay. The second is the act, ending in orgasm. Robert Taub does an especially good job making the climax enjoyable, without the bounciness of Laredo and perhaps Ashkenazy. Sofronitsky, from what I recall, is too harsh and misses the sexual nature of the piece.

Found a site that says pretty much that
https://www.bpmonline.org.uk/bpm7/smith.html

[stevie]

Does anyone know if there is, or what is the extra musical meaning behind this piece?

***

[quasimodo]

Although Scriabin didn't assign programmatic meaning to the 4th, I'd say it's sex.

Now I understand why I love this piece!!! 

Is it me or the sonata No.4 does not sound as hard as the other Scriabin's sonata?
Not saying it's easy, but not as difficult as the others...
By the way, if anybody could spot for me the hardest sections of the piece, I would be eternally grateful. Thanks in advance.

[hodi]

scriabin described it as "the star" sonata
1st movement is reaching for the star
2nd movement is flying into it

[soliloquy]

without the bounciness of Laredo.

whatttttttt??


Laredo 4th Sonata first movement is sooo fragile and ephemeral.

[jpowell]

Now I understand why I love this piece!!! 

Is it me or the sonata No.4 does not sound as hard as the other Scriabin's sonata?
Not saying it's easy, but not as difficult as the others...
By the way, if anybody could spot for me the hardest sections of the piece, I would be eternally grateful. Thanks in advance.

Although I haven't played them all (nos.1 and 6 still to do), I find no.4 perhaps the hardest in terms of technical demands! And so do a couple of other Scriabin pianists I know. But it's not particularly evident from the score, nor does it become apparent until after a couple of performances ....

[hodi]

Now I understand why I love this piece!!! 

Is it me or the sonata No.4 does not sound as hard as the other Scriabin's sonata?
Not saying it's easy, but not as difficult as the others...
By the way, if anybody could spot for me the hardest sections of the piece, I would be eternally grateful. Thanks in advance.

try, just try to read the coda of the 2nd movement
it's hell. and it's BLOODY difficult. it's actually one of the most difficult pieces of music scriabin wrote. along with his 7th,8th sonatas..

[soliloquy]

Although I haven't played them all (nos.1 and 6 still to do)

How can you have not played No. 6 :O  That one's actually my favorite   It's so.... mystical.  No pun intended.

[elevateme_returns]

yes jpowell, how can you not have played no. 6? everyone's played that. even my 2 year old sister has played no. 6.

doesnt matter that you've played all the rest

[Nightscape]

Hey, if you can play 4,5,7,and 8, you should be able to just sightread 1 perfectly well.  Probably even 6 too, which I think is a lot easier to grasp than 7 or 8.

soliloquy is right about it being a great piece too.  There's a moment in it that truly gives a sense of terror like few pieces can, that climax in the middle or so.  I love that ending sonority too - classic Scriabin!

[verywellmister]

Is it as tough as the Prokofiev War Sonatas 6-8?

[soliloquy]

inconsequential

NIGHTSCAPE!!!!  Omg where have you been I haven't seen you in forever =/

[Nightscape]

Well I've just been floundering around.... sometimes coming to the forum to lurk around in the shadows but I have a lot more free time in the summer.

[soliloquy]

How have you been dude?

Learned to appreciate da HERMA yet? 

[ahinton]

yes jpowell, how can you not have played no. 6? everyone's played that. even my 2 year old sister has played no. 6.

doesnt matter that you've played all the rest

Give him a chance! And, while you're about it, perhaps in the interim you might care to post your 2 year olf sister's performance of 6 here so that we can all assess it...

Anyway, he (Jonathan Powell, that is) gave a truly great performance of 8 the other evening in a demanding programme that included, among other things, Alkan's Symphonie, Ives's The Celestial Railroad and the world première of Sorabji's transcription of the closing scene from Strauss's Salome; no repertoire slouch, is Mr Powell! I, too, look forward to his performances of the Sixth Skryabin sonata in due course, of course...

Bset,

Alistair

[franz_]

Which Scriabin Sonata is the easiest then?

[hodi]

Which Scriabin Sonata is the easiest then?

THEY ARE ALL BLOODY DIFFICULT!!!

well, no.2 and no.9 are considered less difficult, but they are still difficult pieces.

[pita bread]

Which Scriabin Sonata is the easiest then?

9