Composer: Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (6 January 1872 – 27 April 1915)
Work Title: Piano Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.6
Performer: Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (piano)
0:04 – I. Allegro con fuoco
6:37 – II. Adagio
11:25 – III. Presto
14:45 – IV. Funebre
The first movement (0:04), “Allegro con fuoco”, starts with a very dark and passionate opening theme. This grows into a slightly more optimistic climax, but descends again into a forlorn close to the theme. It continues with a melancholy second theme in A-flat major which builds up to the very majestic ending of the 1st movement’s exposition. There is a turbulent development section, followed by a recapitulation of the two main themes, in slightly varied form and with the modulations altered to bring the second theme back in F major. The movement ends very quietly, vacillating uncertainly between F minor and major, before settling for F major in the very last sustained chord.
The second movement (6:37), in C minor, is a very sad “Adagio” in ternary form, ending quietly in C major.
The third movement (11:25), “Presto”, in F minor again, is in a rather condensed and compact Rondo form. The movement is harsh and agitated, relieved briefly only by the more tender middle theme in A-flat major, and angrily hammers into an unresolved end, which is resolved in the final slow movement (14:45), the “Funèbre”, again in F minor, and similar in mood to the funeral march of Chopin’s second piano sonata. The gloom is unrelieved right up to the bleak ending in F minor.
The sonata was published by the prestigious publishing house owned by M.P. Belaieff in 1895 initially as a Sonatina, only later as a sonata.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata_No._1_(Scriabin)
Source videos:
1st movement: https://youtu.be/9Hi0XRFyr54
2nd movement: https://youtu.be/IGLZJSOMVDQ
3rd movement: https://youtu.be/tsHwK-HiJ0o
4th movement: https://youtu.be/VLfaB4JGwGI
