close
Home > Scriabin, Alexander > 7 Preludes

Scriabin, Alexander : 7 Preludes Op.17

Work Overview

Music ID : 2569
Composition Year:1895 
Publication Year:1897
First Publisher:Belaïev
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:prelude
Total Playing Time:11 min 00 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (1)

Author : Saitoh, Noriko

Last Updated: May 1, 2008
[Open]
Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

One of several collections of preludes published in 1897 alongside 24 Preludes, Op. 11.

Prelude No. 1 in D minor, 3/4 time, Allegretto

Composed in Paris when the composer was 24 years old. While the right hand consistently plays eighth notes, the left hand varies its note values, dividing them into groups of three, four, and five.

Prelude No. 2 in E-flat major, 2/4 time, Presto

Composed in Paris when the composer was 24 years old. This piece features cross-phrasing, where two notes of the left hand's triplets are shifted before the beat. Additionally, octaves are frequently used throughout.

Prelude No. 3 in D-flat major, 3/4 time, Andante

Composed in Paris when the composer was 24 years old. This piece is primarily based on black keys. Both the right and left hands exhibit a wavering, undulating musical motion. Occasionally, 2-against-3 polyrhythms can be observed.

Prelude No. 4 in B-flat minor, 3/2 time, Lento

Composed in Moscow when the composer was 23 years old. A melody interwoven with rests is accompanied by single notes in the left hand, which consistently plays eighth notes. This left-hand part combines large and small undulations.

Prelude No. 5 in F minor, 9/8 time, Prestissimo

Composed in Moscow when the composer was 23 years old. The right hand features characteristic sixteenth notes in a descending melodic pattern, accompanied by the left hand primarily playing octaves in eighth notes. A wide range of dynamics is required throughout. Although there are a few measures marked p in the middle, the momentum of the piece does not wane even there.

Prelude No. 6 in B-flat minor, 6/8 time, Allegro doloroso

Composed in St. Petersburg when the composer was 23 years old. It is primarily based on a long-breathed melody in the upper voice, an inner voice where whole and half steps are exquisitely placed, and a bass voice that progresses step by step, though the number of voices varies.

Prelude No. 7 in G minor, 9/8 time, Allegro assai

Composed in St. Petersburg when the composer was 23 years old. The melody, which exhibits varied phrase lengths, is accompanied by a left hand that moves across a wide range. Occasionally, inner voices are heard, and the bass is sometimes doubled in octaves. A wide range of dynamics is employed, and the piece quietly concludes the entire collection.

Writer: Saitoh, Noriko

Movements (7)

Allegretto

Key: d-moll  Total Performance Time: 2 min 00 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0

Presto

Key: Es-Dur  Total Performance Time: 1 min 00 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0

Andante

Key: Des-Dur  Total Performance Time: 2 min 00 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0

Lento

Key: b-moll  Total Performance Time: 1 min 00 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0

Prestissimo

Key: f-moll  Total Performance Time: 1 min 30 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0

Andante doloroso

Key: B-Dur  Total Performance Time: 2 min 00 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0

Allegro assai

Key: g-moll  Total Performance Time: 1 min 30 sec 

Explanation 0

Sheet Music 0

Arrangement 0