Vers la flamme

Vers la flamme (Toward the flame), Op. 72, is one of Alexander Scriabin's last pieces for piano, written in 1914.

The melody is very simple, consisting mainly of descending half steps, but the unusual harmonies and difficult tremolos create an intense, fiery luminance. This piece was intended to be Scriabin's eleventh sonata; however, he had to publish it early because of financial concerns. Hence, the piece is labelled a poem, rather than a sonata.

According to pianist Vladimir Horowitz, the piece was inspired by Scriabin's eccentric conviction that a constant accumulation of heat would ultimately cause the destruction of the world.^[1] The piece's title reflects the earth's fiery destruction, and the constant emotional buildup and crescendo throughout the piece lead, ultimately, "toward the flame".

References

1. ↑ Horowitz in television footage included in "Horowitz: A Reminiscence", TV broadcast 1993. Released as Kultur Films DVD 2007.

External links

• Vers la flamme: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

Alexander Scriabin Orchestral works Rêverie Symphony No. 1 in E major Symphony No. 2 in C minor Symphony No. 3 in C minor (The Divine Poem) The Poem of Ecstasy Prometheus: The Poem of Fire Mysterium Concerto Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor Piano music Sonatas No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 Études Étude in C-sharp minor Étude in D-sharp minor Preludes Prelude in C major Prelude in E minor Prelude in E major Prelude in C-sharp minor Prelude in F major Prelude in A minor Prelude Op. 59 No. 2 Prelude, Op. 74, No. 2 Other Fantaisie in B minor Nocturne in A-flat Sonata-Fantaisie in G-sharp minor Vers la flamme Related articles List of compositions Accarezzevole Color organ Julian Scriabin Mystic chord Russian symbolism Synesthesia in art Theosophy Unified field Portal:Classical music