Alexander Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 4 is a composition written in the advent of the 20th century. Consisting of two movements, it is one of the composer’s shortest piano sonatas. The sonata is notable in that its tonal ambiguity and colorful post-Romantic harmonies sets it as a seminal work that marks the beginning of Scriabin’s middle period.
The languid first movement leads directly into the nimble second, and the starting theme, typical of a work in cyclic form, appears in various iterations in the two movements. In conjunction with the poem that Scriabin penned after finishing the piece, the sonata seems to illustrate the faint gleam of a distant star light-years away, the star beckoning to a god-like being (presumably himself), the entity, thoroughly mesmerized by the stellar body, leaping toward and embracing the star. As the being closes the distance between him and the star, the view of the star grows until the blinding glory of an entire sun beams down upon the god-like arrivant. The divine entity, upon establishing contact with the star, would thereby consume and engulf it, becoming one with the star. The second movement concludes in a tone of celebration and ecstasy. Within it, the original theme undergoes its final incarnation as a grandiose supernova bursting with chordal tremoli (a favorite texture of Scriabin’s).
“In a light mist, transparent vapor
Lost afar and yet distinct
A star gleams softly.
How beautiful! The bluish mystery
Of her glow
Beckons me, cradles me.
O bring me to thee, far distant star!
Bathe me in trembling rays
Sweet light!
Sharp desire, voluptuous and crazed yet sweet
Endlessly with no other goal than longing
I would desire
But no! I vault in joyous leap
Freely I take wing.
Mad dance, godlike play!
Intoxicating, shining one!
It is toward thee, adored star
My flight guides me.
Mad dance, godlike play!
Intoxicating, shining one!
Toward thee, created freely for me
To serve the end
My flight of liberation!
In this play
Sheer caprice
In moments I forget thee
In the maelstrom that carries me
I veer from thy glimmering rays.
In the intensity of desire
Thou fadest
O distant goal.
But ever thou shinest
As I forever desire thee!
Thou expandest, Star!
Now thou art a Sun
Flamboyant Sun! Sun of Triumph!
Approaching thee by my desire for thee
I lave [wash] myself in thy changing waves
O joyous god.
I swallow thee
Sea of light.
My self-of-light
I engulf thee!”
Date: 1903
Catalogue: Op. 30
Order:
No. 1 - Andante in F-sharp Major: 0:08
No. 2 - Prestissimo volando in F-sharp Major: 3:17
Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy on piano
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