Why not Scriabin?

[total_failure]

Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff extremely boring? 
The question how come somebody finds 3 of the greatest composers for the piano extremely boring, but suddenly loves Scriabin, I find much more interesting to answer.

[outin]

Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff extremely boring? 
The question how come somebody finds 3 of the greatest composers for the piano extremely boring, but suddenly loves Scriabin, I find much more interesting to answer.

I also find Rach and Liszt mostly boring... Would you like to see into my head? 

[total_failure]

Come on guys, how is this possible?

you have to AT LEAST admit, that the music is interesting. If such passionate and ingenious composers like Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt are boring, how can you truly appreciate Scriabin... it is a mystery to me. Anyway, if great performers and conductors have failed to awake your interest, i very much doubt that a post on a piano forum will do the opposite...

[mjames]

It's not hard to dislike Rach or feel indifferent to him. Even for me, and I'm guy who loves BOOM BOOM, FAST FAST, PRETTY piano music, Rachmaninoff can be waaaay too romantic. So Outin, being a person who dislikes 'pretty things', it's not hard so see why she would feel indifferent to Rachmaninoff.

Liszt? Tried way too hard. Not too long ago someone dedicated entire thread as to why he considered Liszt to be boring.

[outin]

Come on guys, how is this possible?

you have to AT LEAST admit, that the music is interesting. If such passionate and ingenious composers like Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt are boring, how can you truly appreciate Scriabin... it is a mystery to me. Anyway, if great performers and conductors have failed to awake your interest, i very much doubt that a post on a piano forum will do the opposite...

I don't find Chopin boring, at least not all of it. So not everything pretty is boring
And I do find some Scriabin boring as well. But Rach and Liszt simply have failed to make me interested in their piano music despite trying many times. I do like the 2 concertos by Liszt, but not his solo piano music (with very few exceptions)... Maybe I am just not a passionate person in the way you mean. To awake my interest there has to be something else in the music than passion and emotion. I like quirky things...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Chopin is boring

Liszt is AIGHT

Rachmaninoff is a freaking superhero

Scriabin is Rachmaninoff's sidekick


IN GENERAL

[mjames]

outin=ded inside

rachlover=no taste

Liszt is pretty hit and miss for me too. At times, he can be bloody awesome (the sonata in b minor is glorious) and at other times he can be so freeaaking tedious and boring. But yeah, he's alright.

scriabin>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>rachmaninoff

[theholygideons]

outin=ded inside

rachlover=no taste

Liszt is pretty hit and miss for me too. At times, he can be bloody awesome (the sonata in b minor is glorious) and at other times he can be so freeaaking tedious and boring. But yeah, he's alright.

scriabin>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>rachmaninoff

Scott Joplin>>>>>>rachaminoff>>>>>scriabin>>>>>>Liszt>>>>>mjames.

[mjames]

Scott Joplin>>>>>>rachaminoff>>>>>scriabin>>>>>>Liszt>>>>>mjames.

autotune>hidgeons

[rachmaninoff_forever]

scriabin>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>rachmaninoff

I disagree but I can see an argument made for this

[mjames]

I disagree but I can see an argument made for this

I'm not even being serious lol. Though I do have preferences I dont really think one's better than the other. I for one enjoy Rachmaninoff's approach to the prelude form than Scriabin's, far more adventurous.

[outin]

outin=ded inside

I really felt something inside yesterday while listening to some Liszt...turned out I had eaten something unsuitable...

[total_failure]

I really felt something inside yesterday while listening to some Liszt...turned out I had eaten something unsuitable...

Oh...so you added an improvised trombone line? 😀

[outin]

Oh...so you added an improvised trombone line? 😀

LOL

[visitor]

Oh...so you added an improvised trombone line? 😀

or [much more likely] she stepped on her pet
Duck

[total_failure]

That is an interesting tone color.. but don't forget the dynamics. The composer indicated fartissimo at this point!

[expressman70]

I dont know what you are talking about. He is well performed around the world.

[outin]

I dont know what you are talking about. He is well performed around the world.

At present we are talking about our personal preferences. The original question was posted 13 years ago.

[outin]

I for one enjoy Rachmaninoff's approach to the prelude form than Scriabin's, far more adventurous.

That I don't get. I find Rach's preludes very boring.

But to clear a misunderstanding, I do not ONLY like late Scriabin, I am just a bit selective in his output.

The one I am learning now is op 27-2. I also asked my teacher about the first etude which is a lovely piece. She asked if I want to just learn to play it or learn to play it well and that's her way of saying forget about it 

[mjames]

Op. 27? I think I played one of them before, in g minor. Probably the first considering it's filled with huge chords. I know you hate those. lol Wait, first etude? Op. 2 in c sharp minor? Oh that one's pretty! You do have a heart, aha.

Since I'm pretty much done learning my current stuff I'm trying out the op. 19, 1st mvt. Not sure if I can handle yet, but only way to know for sure is to try! Are you planning to play any sonatas in the near future?

Weirdly enough I think I'm indifferent to Scriabin's etudes. Except for his op. 42...everything else is kind of meh.

[outin]

Op. 27? I think I played one of them before, in g minor. Probably the first considering it's filled with huge chords. I know you hate those. lol Wait, first etude? Op. 2 in c sharp minor? Oh that one's pretty! You do have a heart, aha.

Since I'm pretty much done learning my current stuff I'm trying out the op. 19, 1st mvt. Not sure if I can handle yet, but only way to know for sure is to try! Are you planning to play any sonatas in the near future?

Weirdly enough I think I'm indifferent to Scriabin's etudes. Except for his op. 42...everything else is kind of meh.

Sonatas? I can barely learn a 4 page piece 
I have to memorize everything and I am really bad at it...

Just like with the preludes, some are really nice, some at a bit boring. Have you listened to the later opuses?

[visitor]

Sonatas? I can barely learn a 4 page piece 
I have to memorize everything and I am really bad at it...

Just like with the preludes, some are really nice, some at a bit boring. Have you listened to the later opuses?

we share some similar aesthetic leanings. I was listing to this recently and think you'd like it given your predilection for lots of Scriabin I like as well, so what appeals to me may also appeal to you here

 

[outin]

we share some similar aesthetic leanings. I was listing to this recently and think you'd like it given your predilection for lots of Scriabin I like as well, so what appeals to me may also appeal to you here

 

Yes, that is indeed a very pretty piece

[ronde_des_sylphes]

This is why not Scriabin. 

"Shallow people will say, “I don’t care if the Concerto is badly written or that Scriabin was a sex maniac. I don’t care that he does not know the difference between F double sharp and G natural. It means nothing to me that he was a rapist, a drunk and had severe mental problems. I like his work and that is all that matters so shut up!”

https://www.wrightmusic.net/pdfs/scriabin-and-mental-illness.pdf

[outin]

This is why not Scriabin.  

"Shallow people will say, “I don’t care if the Concerto is badly written or that Scriabin was a sex maniac. I don’t care that he does not know the difference between F double sharp and G natural. It means nothing to me that he was a rapist, a drunk and had severe mental problems. I like his work and that is all that matters so shut up!”

https://www.wrightmusic.net/pdfs/scriabin-and-mental-illness.pdf

I'm really shallow, I also like Balakirev  

Read the article...There's a fine line between weird and mentally ill...I prefer to think of myself as former

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I do hope the article was entertaing..

Quite surprised it didn't mention him impregnating one of his pupils, tbh. Then again, much of it wasn't about Scriabin at all.

[mjames]

Why is 'effeminate' a criticism? Chopin gets that a lot as well.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Why is 'effeminate' a criticism?

I have no idea. But then again, the article appears to be a rather elongated ad hominem. I happen to quite like his Concerto. I'm obviously disturbed😀

[ted]

Music is completely abstract sound for me and the only meaning it has is that which I decide to assign it, consciously or unconsciously, and is not invariant at the best of times anyway, but frequently changes from one hearing to another. Its formative process, what sort of person its creator was, what other people think about it, are completely irrelevant considerations. It wouldn't matter to me had it been generated by a computer program or a chimpanzee. Abstract sound, and its effect on my brain is all that matters. Exactly why I like creating and playing some sounds more than others is no doubt a very interesting question, but remains a mystery beyond my understanding, and it certainly has nothing to do with historical or social associations, of that much I am convinced.

[outin]

Music is completely abstract sound for me and the only meaning it has is that which I decide to assign it, consciously or unconsciously, and is not invariant at the best of times anyway, but frequently changes from one hearing to another. Its formative process, what sort of person its creator was, what other people think about it, are completely irrelevant considerations. It wouldn't matter to me had it been generated by a computer program or a chimpanzee. Abstract sound, and its effect on my brain is all that matters. Exactly why I like creating and playing some sounds more than others is no doubt a very interesting question, but remains a mystery beyond my understanding, and it certainly has nothing to do with historical or social associations, of that much I am convinced.

Here we seem to be similar. Sounds are all that matters to me too and I feel the effects very directly in my brain.

I remember how much I hated as a child when music was explained as having "real life" sounds. You know, associating instruments as animals and such. Or making the music tell a story (I still dislike programmatic music). Kids are still often introduced to classical music this way, but with me it drove me away from it for decades.

Come to think of it I only really enjoy abtsract visual art as well...

[josephsean]

Scriabin is one of the most important composers in my life. When I truly began studying him, it became clear to me that his music is quite esoteric. The 2nd sonata as you pointed out, is of course a beautiful work, and I believe if the majority of his compositions followed that style he'd be more mainstream. However, I suggest listening to works like sonata no. 6, Prometheus, poème nocturne, op 65 etudes. Essentially works after opus 50 even, and maybe the unique style of that era of his music will shed light on why he isn't not necessarily appreciated, but just not understood. He is a very acquired taste. Also if it's any consolation, his music is highly respected in Russia and he is just as famous as Rachmaninoff there, and if he is less well know now, it should be known that at least in Russia he was very much a household name during his time. Also Rachmaninoff performed his music all over the world when he passed In memory of Scriabin and had an extremely deep respect for his unique music which was influential on rachmaninoff himself. Read Scriabin's bio by Faubian powers for more insight on his life too!

[pencilart3]

Why not Scriabin?

What a terrible, stupid question to ask. Here's the answer: different people have different tastes. I don't know if that is difficult for the OP to understand based on his or her original post. But it sure seems like it. I like Chopin best. But I DON'T go onto every topic on every other composer and say "Why not Chopin?" on every single one. Why? Because they have DIFFERENT tastes than me. Besides the fact that only one composer is very exclusive! I probably listen to nearly as much Ravel as I do Chopin! I listen to nearly as much Debussy and Liszt and Liadov and Szymanowski and Mendelssohn and Ligeti and a host of others as any! Limiting your range of music to just Chopin, or to just Scriabin, or to just Chimuka Zhiruiaknzmi (visitor's favorite ) or dare I say Ludovico Einaudi (forgive me) is not appreciating music fully!! You go ahead and listen to Scriabin. You can go ahead and recommend it to others. But to say that Chopin Liszt and Rachmaninoff are objectively "boring" is terrible self-focused and ignorant of other's tastes. I like Scriabin. And the short answer to "Why not Scriabin?" is for most people probably "I just don't like it". And that's FINE. I'm fine with visitor who likes almost no Chopin stuff. Just suck it up and respect everybody's individual tastes.

[outin]

I don't think the op said anything about Chopin et al being objectively boring? This is a very subjective thread 

[visitor]

Why not Scriabin?

What a terrible, stupid question to ask. Here's the answer: different people have different tastes. I don't know if that is difficult for the OP to understand based on his or her original post. But it sure seems like it. I like Chopin best. But I DON'T go onto every topic on every other composer and say "Why not Chopin?" on every single one. Why? Because they have DIFFERENT tastes than me. Besides the fact that only one composer is very exclusive! I probably listen to nearly as much Ravel as I do Chopin! I listen to nearly as much Debussy and Liszt and Liadov and Szymanowski and Mendelssohn and Ligeti and a host of others as any! Limiting your range of music to just Chopin, or to just Scriabin, or to just Chimuka Zhiruiaknzmi (visitor's favorite ) or dare I say Ludovico Einaudi (forgive me) is not appreciating music fully!! You go ahead and listen to Scriabin. You can go ahead and recommend it to others. But to say that Chopin Liszt and Rachmaninoff are objectively "boring" is terrible self-focused and ignorant of other's tastes. I like Scriabin. And the short answer to "Why not Scriabin?" is for most people probably "I just don't like it". And that's FINE. I'm fine with visitor who likes almost no Chopin stuff. Just suck it up and respect everybody's individual tastes.

omg i *heart Zhiruiaknzmi!!! Its  early pre Alexander Plinkovsky style  but oh still so good

[pencilart3]

Hahahaha visitor