Overview
Introduction
Of the five sets of preludes Scriabin composed in 1903 -- a bumper crop year for him -- this was the most substantial when judged by collective length. Still, the group played as an integral set lasts only about six to seven minutes. But it is not just length that defines this collection of preludes, it is their high quality and generally more colorful and less introverted character, a somewhat rare end result coming from the pen of a composer gradually being drawn toward mysticism.
If there is a lack of meat on the bone in some of Scriabin's earlier etudes from 1903, these make up for it somewhat with a mixture of muscle and mellowness. That said, the first prelude in this set, the B flat minor, marked Mesto, is a mostly gentle piece whose lovely theme works up passionately around the midpoint and seems headed for a climactic release. But some inward restraint aborts the process and the mood recedes to a serene quietude.
The succeeding F sharp major prelude, marked Maestoso, fiero is a vigorous grandiose piece in big chords. For all its glitter, however, Scriabin never allows the music to veer toward the bombastic or gimcrack. The G major third prelude features an Andante tempo and a solemn mood at the outset. But the music transforms in the middle to become warmer and more fluid. The last prelude, the G minor, marked Irato impetuoso, is a muscular piece with a sort of stop-and-start manner throughout. Its gruff character is less sinister than oafish, its bass rumblings more mischievous than malicious.
This is probably one of the composer's more compelling sets of preludes, not least because its expressive range is wider than that of many of the others.
Parts/Movements
- No. 1 in B flat minor. Mesto
- No. 2 in F sharp major. Maestoso fiero
- No. 3 in B major. Andante
- No. 4 in G minor. Irato impetuoso
