SCRIABIN: Sonatas: Op. 19, Op. 53, & Op. 68

SCRIABIN

Sonata-Fantasie No. 2, Op. 19
This piece is in two movements: Andante and Presto. The musical style is similar to those of Chopin but also with an impressionistic feel. The second movement is in contrast to the first movement. The first movement sounds lyrical whereas the second movement is intense in faster tempo. I can see that in order to play this piece, large hands may be required due to several large intervals such as twelfth intervals.

Sonata No. 5, Op. 53
This sonata is important because it is sad that it marks the end of his Romantic period. He dives right into the style of atonality. There is a total of five themes in this piece. The idea in the opening is shockingly intense as there is use of dissonant trill and glissando. The Languido section is slow and wistful. The overall mood of the piece, I thought, reminds me of Brahms. By looking at the score, he also uses several thick chords and sixth intervals except with accidentals which make the music atonal.

There is also an epigraph to this sonata written by him which states “I summon you to life, hidden longings! You, drowned in the dark depths of the creative spirit, you fearful embryos of life, I bring you daring!”

Sonata No. 9, Op. 68
This single-movement sonata is also known as the Black Mass Sonata. As I listen to this piece, the beginning immediately gives me a sort of unstable yet distant feeling highly owing to its use of chromaticism and atonality. The interval of a minor ninth is particular used to make the dissonant sounds in this piece. I can notice that he use trills along with arpeggio to not only gives a sense of flustering tone but also to shift the harmonic structure. As the piece progresses, the tension builds up more and more and eventually reaches the climax. The original theme is again repeated at the end. Like his Sonata No. 5, Op. 53, I think this sonata is also technically demanding