Musical Stream of Consciousness

I do this in other groups whenever I have a lot to say. Usually if I talk for long enough something clicks and I feel much better. It may be bad to read, but that's not the point. }

I've often wondered where Scriabin would have gone musically if he had lived a full life and not died young. His compositions started out as gorgeous, slightly funky and charming works in the style of Chopin. Then he took that experience and developed it into his own style, very fragile and colorful. The Preludes of this period, as well as the Op. 42 Etudes, are some of my favorites. He composed many pieces in C major around this period, foreshadowing his next step, abandonment of key centers after the Fifth Sonata. I think Rachmaninoff's C major Prelude, Op. 32 No. 1, was a predominating influence in his roundabout, chromatic resolution methods. The late works are all very different and yet similar. The Op. 74 Preludes are the most interesting, with jarring, unpleasant, mournful statements that still sound vaguely tonal. He shared Rachmaninoff's talent for focusing entire compositions around a single key. Then there's the question of his pianism. The 'twittering of birds' and 'mewing of kittens?' I'll wager he took his late compositions very slow, much slower than today's pianists. Either that or he was a master of the Henselt touch, or both. Between those two preoccupations, I don't think he ever could have embraced serial music. His lot was stretching the basic ideas of tonality and classical formats and finally reaching the absolute apex of music. If he had lived, no doubt he would have changed the world. I would certainly prefer that to Schoenberg imitators. How do I fit in as a pianist? I honestly can't say. I play as I think Scriabin did, for the most part, but I also have a love of thunder, bells, and chaos. To play Chopin's F# minor Polonaise the way I want to, I would really need to be a dragon!

That's enough for now...

-Snrrt Ctls, yr fthfl srvnt.

Dragon Code: DC2.Mfps+D Gm L12f T2c Phlwlt Sku Cpi+/wh:wh,ebl++ Bic/wa A17 Fr Ni M+ O+ H $- F

Between those two preoccupations, I don't think he ever could have

I'm sorry, but it really pains me to see such a young musician flinging about characterizations like this of a large, diverse body of music he has never heard.

evan (at home)

Sun, 03 Jun 2001 14:33:26 GMT, Mark W. Johnson scratched into my forehead:

Fine. Describe to me the ups and downs of serial music. Convert me, I'm game.

-Snrrt Ctls, yr fthfl srvnt.

Dragon Code: DC2.Mfps+D Gm L12f T2c Phlwlt Sku Cpi+/wh:wh,ebl++ Bic/wa A17 Fr Ni M+ O+ H $- F

Why not >listen< to some instead? Start with Berg's Violin Concerto.

Sun, 3 Jun 2001 15:32:11 -0700, Henry Glenworthy scratched into my forehead:

All right. Why should I spend $10 on this instead of Idil Biret's Rachmaninoff sonatas, other than you told me so?

-Snrrt Ctls, yr fthfl srvnt.

Dragon Code: DC2.Mfps+D Gm L12f T2c Phlwlt Sku Cpi+/wh:wh,ebl++ Bic/wa A17 Fr Ni M+ O+ H $- F

Because it's absolutely gorgeous, because it'd be good for you, because you might learn something about yourself and about music, and because it behooves a serious musician to acquaint him- or herself with all facets of the art.

My first suggestion was going to be the Naxos recording of Boulez piano sonatas (by Ms. Biret, no less), hoping to snare you in with some exciting pianism, but the Berg is a more Romantically beautiful choice.

evan (at home)

game.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'ups and downs,' but I'm afraid it's going to be impossible to 'convert you' without your consent, in the form of a willingness to listen to some actual music.

evan (at home)

Well, I've already become comfortable with Messiaen, and Scriabin sounds so natural he's second nature. I asked the sheet music store for Stockhausen, but they didn't have any. The Shchedrin was enough for me, though. I knew I was missing something.