Sonata No. 6 (Scriabin)

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Alexander Scriabin's Sonata No. 6 (opus 62) was written from 1911 to 1912, actually preceded by the Sonata No. 7.

It is one of a few pieces Scriabin never played himself. He reportedly had a fear of its darkness, and often stared shuddering after playing a few measures for other people.^[1]

This sonata does indeed begin in shuddering darkness, and the ending is akin to freezing in outer space. In between, however, is a riveting series of events that includes a gorgeous, flowing dream sequence and moments of pure terror. The sixth sonata ranks as one of Scriabin's finest works, along with the seventh, eighth and tenth sonatas. Among the small number of recordings of Sonata #6 that exist in the first place, few really capture this stunning music. For the best, try to find Roger Woodward's recording of late piano works by Scriabin.

[edit] Further reading

• Scriabin, Alexander. Complete Piano Sonatas. 1964 Muzyka score republished in 1988 by New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-25850-5. The sixth sonata occupies pages 114-140.

[edit] References

1. ^ Leonid Sabaneev: Erinnerungen an Alexander Skrjabin. Verlag Ernst Kuhn 1925/2005. ISBN 3-928864-21-1

Piano Sonatas by Alexander Scriabin
| Sonata No. 1 | Sonata No. 2 | Sonata No. 3 | Sonata No. 4 | Sonata No. 5 | Sonata No. 6 | Sonata No. 7 | Sonata No. 8 | Sonata No. 9 | Sonata No. 10