Alexander Scriabin was a Russian composer and pianist whose innovative and visionary works pushed the boundaries of traditional tonality and paved the way for the development of atonal and mystical music in the 20th century.
Early Life and Education
Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was born on January 6, 1872, in Moscow, Russia, into a well-to-do family. His mother, a talented pianist, died when he was just a year old. As a child who showed incredible musical promise, Scriabin entered the Moscow Conservatory at the age of 10, where he studied piano with Vasily Safonov and composition with Sergei Taneyev.
Development as a Composer
During his years at the Moscow Conservatory, Scriabin’s compositions began to gain attention for their originality and daring harmonic language. Influenced by the music of Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, and Russian composers such as Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin developed a highly personal style characterized by lush harmonies, chromaticism, and a sense of mystical transcendence.
Evolution of Style
In his early compositions, Scriabin’s style was largely Romantic, with works such as his Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor and his Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand showcasing his virtuosic piano writing and expressive lyricism. However, as he matured, Scriabin’s music became increasingly experimental and visionary.
Synesthetic Experiences
Scriabin was fascinated by synesthesia, a condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second pathway. He believed that music could evoke visual and sensory experiences in listeners, and he composed his works with the intention of creating a synesthetic experience. Scriabin even developed a color-coded system called the “Prometheus chord” to represent different harmonies and moods in his compositions.
The Prometheus Symphony and Mysterium
One of Scriabin’s most ambitious works is his Symphony No. 5, “Prometheus: The Poem of Fire,” which integrates a large orchestra, chorus, piano, and color organ. This symphony reflects his interest in mysticism and theosophy, with the music intended to evoke a sense of spiritual transformation in the listener. Scriabin envisioned an even grander work, titled “Mysterium,” which was to be a multimedia extravaganza lasting several days and intended to bring about a spiritual awakening in humanity. However, Scriabin died before he could complete this monumental project.
Personal Life
Scriabin married twice, and had seven children. Beyond his musical pursuits, Scriabin was known for his complex and enigmatic personality. He was deeply introspective and often immersed himself in philosophical and mystical studies. Despite his somewhat eccentric tendencies, he formed deep connections with fellow artists and intellectuals of his time, including the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and the philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev.
Later Years and Death
In his later years, Scriabin’s health began to deteriorate, and he became increasingly preoccupied with mystical and philosophical ideas. He died on April 27, 1915, in Moscow, at the age of 43, from septicemia resulting from a sore on his lip. Despite his relatively short life, Scriabin left behind a rich legacy of music that continues to fascinate and inspire audiences around the world.
Legacy
Scriabin’s influence on 20th-century music is profound. His innovative harmonic language and exploration of new tonalities paved the way for composers such as Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern to embrace atonality and serialism. His visionary approach to music and his integration of synesthetic experiences have also inspired later composers, artists, and thinkers.