Demystifying Scriabin

This book provides new and original research from leading and upcoming Russian music scholars, covering aspects of Scriabin's life, personality, beliefs, training, creative output, and interaction with contemporary Russian culture. It discusses key topics such as mysticism, philosophy, music theory, contemporary aesthetics, and composition processes, and offers a critical understanding of how Scriabin's writings sit within the traditions of Mysticism, French, and Russian Symbolism. It also investigates his creative compositional process, miniaturism, and its wider context, as well as the complex interaction of rhythm and metre, modal interactions, and self-regulating structures in his music.

Format: Hardback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

This book is a groundbreaking addition to the field of Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) studies, delving into various aspects of his life, personality, beliefs, training, creative output, and interaction with contemporary Russian culture. It presents fresh and original research from renowned and emerging Russian music scholars. Key topics explored include mysticism, philosophy, music theory, contemporary aesthetics, and composition processes. The musical coverage spans Scriabin's early, middle, and late periods, encompassing his piano miniatures, sonatas, and symphonies.

In greater detail, chapters examine: Scriabin's role in the cultural climate of early twentieth-century Russia; his transition from early pastiche to a highly original style; the influence of music theory on his distinctive style; the shifting contexts of Scriabin performances; new insights into reception studies. Additional chapters explore: a critical examination of Scriabin's writings within the traditions of Mysticism, French, and Russian Symbolism; a fresh investigation into his creative compositional process; miniaturism and its broader context; a novel interpretation of Scriabin's mysticism and synaesthesia. Analytical chapters extend beyond the score, employing new approaches from disability studies, exploring the intricate interplay of rhythm and meter, the latent diatonic tonal function of Scriabin's late works, and self-regulating structures in his music.

This comprehensive and insightful work offers a deeper understanding of Scriabin's life, music, and cultural significance, shedding light on his enduring legacy in the world of classical music.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276561