January 6th: Alexander Scriabin
Alexander Scriabin 6 January 1872 [O.S. 25 December 1871] – 27 April [O.S. 14 April] 1915
Étude in C-sharp minor Op. 2, No. 1
By Charles-Louis Klary – Journal of the Scriabin Society of America, Volume 16, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=172890545
Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was a famous Russian composer and pianist, born on Christmas Day in 1871. He was influenced by Frédéric Chopin and began composing in a late-Romantic style. However, after 1903, Scriabin developed a unique musical language that was more dissonant and transcended traditional tonality. He believed in the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, which means a total artwork that combines different art forms. Scriabin also had synesthesia, associating colours with musical tones. This made his music special and innovative. He is often seen as a key figure in Russian music and a representative of the Russian Silver Age. Despite his fame during his lifetime, Scriabin’s importance faded after his death in 1915. However, since the 1970s, musicians have rediscovered his works, including ten piano sonatas and the Poem of Ecstasy. These pieces showcase his evolving style and the emotional depth of his music. Scriabin’s contributions continue to inspire many composers today, making him a significant figure in the world of classical music.
*Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) indicate dating systems before and after a calendar change, respectively. Usually, they refer to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar as enacted in various European countries between 1582 and 1923.
