Top 100 Composers: Alexander Scriabin

 

I probably 1st read about Scriabin when I was about 18. I vaguely recall a drawing depicting him at a keyboard that was some sort of light organ that would project colored light that was different for each key when a key was depressed. There would've been some accompanying text about Scriabin's theory about this. Again, as I vaguely recall, I think this was presented as Scriabin's vision, as something that he was unable to technically achieve in his lifetime. This would've intrigued me.

I was 18 from 1971 to 1972. I probably encounted the above in the summer of 1972. By that point, of course, there would've been psychedelic light shows. I don't recall whether I ever witnessed one in that era. I might have at a Jefferson Airplane show a couple of years before.

Scriabin's vision would've been different from the shows of the psychedelic rock bands. He probably had a more specific color theory that was related to pitch & harmony.

Given that I'm both a moviemaker & a (m)usician/d-composer, I've given many 'performances' that combine live sound & projection. As with Scriabin, & unlike almost every pop & rock act, my projections are meaningful & calculated - they're not just gratuitous visual filler to keep the (v)audience distracted with eye-candy.

Some varied examples of what I'm talking about are:

"Sound Along w/ t he Bounding Ball(s)": http://youtu.be/pGyS0t7vEQ0

"Our": http://youtu.be/u4nZGBPPOyM

"Multiple Projections 1978-2009": https://youtu.be/6smYCjQPuXM

"Harps & Angles": http://youtu.be/Qk_UOY0c1bk

"Sonluminous Premier": https://youtu.be/nAnnNd4qyxY

"A Catamaran Animist Vigor" at Babyland: http://youtu.be/cn3U055X-2U

""EL" IP": https://youtu.be/fiAVrCNtKvQ

These all represent different ideas & approaches & none of them are intended to realize or imitate Scriabin's vision. Nonetheless, I consider them to be somewhat in a lineage that he's a forefather of.

There is an online version of Scriabin's "Prometheus: Poem of Fire"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3B7uQ5K0IU&spfreload=1

that finally realizes Scriabin's vision & about wch it's written that:

"In February 2010, Anna Gawboy, a doctoral candidate at the Yale School of Music and scholar of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, attempted to realize the composer's final work: a symphony of sound and light called "Prometheus: Poem of Fire". To accomplish this, Anna worked closely with Toshiyuki Shimada, conductor of the Yale Symphony Orchestra, and Justin Townsend, an award-winning lighting designer.

"Anna and Justin spent a year developing ideas and preparing for the performance, but a majority of the lighting work was done just days before the concert. This documentary covers the events of that week and the performance itself."  

Bravo!!

According to my "Record Collection" list that I've beeen keeping since I was 13, I didn't get a Scriabin record until I got the Everest orchestral "Poem of Ecstasy" in 1985. It didn't do much for me. It wasn't until I finally got records of Ruth Laredo playing his piano music in 2007 that I was deeeply impressed. Here was passionate music.

Now, in honor of making this web-page, I've compiled a 7 volume tape retrospective of the recordings of his work that I have in my collection. I was previously under the impression that I loved Ruth Laredo's performances above all else but listening to Yakov Kasman I've discovered that I love his playing probably just as much. I have some of the Laredo records duplicated but I've kept them largely for the stunning pictures of her.

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 1 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

01. "Etude in C sharp minor" Op. 2, No. 1 - 1887-9 - 3:06 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

02. "Sonata No. 1 in F minor" Op. 6 - 1893 - 20:46 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

03. "Sonata 1" Op. 6 - 24:22 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

See the notation for this one below.

04. "Sonata No. 2, "Sonata-Fantasy", in G sharp minor" Op. 19 - 1892-7 - 11:02 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 2 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

05. "Sonata 2" Op. 19 - 12:18 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

06. "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F sharp minor" Op. 20 - 1896 - 27:12 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Anatol Ugorski: piano - Deutsche Grammophon CD 289 459 647-2

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

07. "Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor" Op. 23 - 1898 - 19:11 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

08. "Sonata 3" Op. 23 - 20:23 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 3 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

09. "Symphony No. 1" Op. 26 - 1902 - 41:44 - Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt - Philips Boxset LPs

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

10. "Symphony No. 2" Op. 29 - 1902 - 47:23 - Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt - Philips Boxset LPs

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 4 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

11. "Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major" Op. 30 - 1903 - 7:57 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

12. "Sonata 4" Op. 30 - 9:28 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

13. "8 Etudes" Op. 42 - 1903 - 13:27 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

14. "Symphony No. 3 "The Divine Poem"" Op. 43 - 1903 - 45:30 - Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt - Philips Boxset LPs

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 5 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

15. "Sonata No. 5, "Poem of Ecstasy", in F sharp major" Op. 53 - 1907 - 10:39 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

16. "Le Poème de l'extase" Op. 54 - 1907 - Houston Symphony Orchestra - Everest LPBR-6032

17. "Sonata 5" Op. 53 - 14:20 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

18. "Le Poème de l'extase" Op. 54 - 18:19 - Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt - Philips Boxset LPs

19. "Désir" Op. 57, No. 1, "Caress Dansée" Op. 57, No. 2 - 1907 - 2:50 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

20. "Prométhée, Le Poème du feu" op. 60 - 18:50 - Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt - Philips Boxset LPs

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 6 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

21. "Le Poème de l'extase" Op. 54 - 21:59 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Deutsche Grammophon CD 289 459 647-2

22. "Prométhée, Le Poème du feu" op. 60 - 1910 - Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus - 22:44 - Deutsche Grammophon CD 289 459 647-2

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

23. "Sonata No. 6" Op. 62 - 1911-12 - 13:06 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

24. "Sonata 6" Op. 62 - 13:24 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

25. "Sonata No. 7, "White Mass"" Op. 64 - 1911-12 - 11:24 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

 

Alexander Scriabin Retrospective: Volume 7 of 7:

Side 1 of a 90 minute tape:

26. "Sonata 7. "La Messe Blanche"" Op. 64 - 12:31- "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

27. "Sonata No. 8" Op. 66 - 1912-13 - 14:34 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

28. "Sonata 8" Op. 66 - 14:57 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

29. "Sonata No. 9, "Black Mass"" Op. 68 - 1912-13 - 7:20 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

30. "Sonata 9. "La Messe Noire"" Op. 68 - 8:27 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

See the notation for this one below!!

 

Side 2 of a 90 minute tape:

31. "Sonata No. 10"" Op. 70 - 1912-13 - 13:27 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1

32. "Sonata 10" Op. 70 - 13:14 - "The Complete Sonatas" played by Yakov Kasman - Phaia Music 3xCD

33. "Vers La Flamme" Op. 72 - 1914 - 4:30 - "The Complete Piano Sonatas" played by Ruth Laredo - Nonesuch Boxset 73035-1 - a movie of my friend Franz Kamin performing this is on my onesownthoughts YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Vf1CLt_68F8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tENT interpolation: The above is one of the wildest complexes of ties I've ever seen.

 

 

 

tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE note: I don't have the actual packaging for this box-set.

 

 

 

 

 

tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE

idioideo at verizon dot net

 

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Anti-Neoism page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Audiography page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Bibliography page

to my "Blaster" Al Ackerman index

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Books page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE BYOC page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Censored or Rejected page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Collaborations page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE (d) compositions page

to Amir-ul Kafirs' Facebook page

to the "FLICKER" home-page for the alternative cinematic experience

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's GoodReads profile

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Haircuts page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Home Tapers page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE index page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Instagram Poetry page

to a listing of tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's manifestations on the Internet Archive

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE as Interviewee index

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE as Interviewer index

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE'S Linked-In profile

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's Mail Art page

for A Mere Outline for One Aspect of a Book on Mystery Catalysts, Guerrilla Playfare, booed usic, Mad Scientist Didactions, Acts of As-Beenism, So-Called Whatevers, Psychopathfinding, Uncerts, Air Dressing, Practicing Promotextuality, Imp Activism, etc..

to the mm index

to see an underdeveloped site re the N.A.A.M.C.P. (National Association for the Advancement of Multi-Colored Peoples)

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's Neoism page

to the DEFINITIVE Neoism/Anti-Neoism website

to the Philosopher's Union website

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE movie-making "Press: Criticism, Interviews, Reviews" home-page

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's Score Movies

to SMILEs

to find out more about why the S.P.C.S.M.E.F. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Sea Monkeys by Experimental Filmmakers) is so important

to the "tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE - Sprocket Scientist" home-page

to the tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE Top 100s page

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's Top 100 Composers index

to Psychic Weed's Twitter page

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's Vimeo index

to Vine movies relevant to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE made by Ryan Broughman

to tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's presence in the Visual Music Village

for info on tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's tape/CD publishing label: WIdémoUTH

to a very small selection of tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE's Writing

to the onesownthoughts YouTube channel