Author Description
Skryabin's Life Spanned The Tumultuous Political Events And Artistic Developments Of The End Of The 19th Century And The Early Years Of The 20th But Was Cut Short Before The End Of The First World War. In An Era When The Russian Musical Scene Was Relatively Conservative, He Aligned Himself With The Poets, Philosophers, And Dramatists Of The Silver Age. Possessed By An Apocalyptic Vision, Aspects Of Which He Shared With Other Russian Thinkers And Artists Of The Period, Skryabin Transformed His Romantic Musical Style Into A Far-reaching, Radical Instrument For The Expression Of His Ideas. The Core Of This Text Is A Full Translation Of The 1919 Moscow Publication Of Skryabin's Writings With The Original Introduction By Skryabin's Close Friend Boris De Schloezer, Brother Of The Composer's Life Partner, Tat'yana. Translated By Simon Nicholls And Michael Pushkin; Annotations And Commentary By Simon Nicholls; Foreword By Vladimir Ashkenazy. Previously Issued In Print: 2018. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection investigates the intersection of Aleksandr Skryabin’s radical musical evolution and his apocalyptic philosophical framework during the Russian Silver Age. The text presents a comprehensive translation of the 1919 Moscow publication of Skryabin’s personal writings, curated by his associate Boris de Schloezer. By examining these primary documents, the authors provide a window into the composer's transition from traditional Romanticism to a unique, metaphysical musical language that sought to transcend conventional artistic boundaries.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A full translation of the 1919 Moscow edition of Skryabin’s writings.
- Original introductory commentary by Boris de Schloezer.
- Detailed annotations and scholarly commentary by Simon Nicholls.
- A foreword by pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a comprehensive biography of the composer's entire life.
- It does not offer a technical musicological analysis of his complete scores.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and musicians regard this volume as a vital primary source for understanding the intellectual motivations behind Skryabin’s late-period compositions. Readers frequently note that the prose is dense and requires familiarity with the philosophical climate of early 20th-century Russia to fully appreciate the composer's esoteric vision.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
0190863692
ISBN-13:
9780190863692
Music
Biography
Philosophy
Russian History
Primary Sources