Symphony No. 1 (Scriabin)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Scriabin
's Symphony No. 1, Op. 26, in E major
was written in 1899 and 1900. It is an ambitious first symphony, consisting of six movements the last of which has a chorus and two vocal soloists.
to the sovereignty of Art, a theme common in Scriabin's works. The Mezzo-soprano begins the movement with "O highest symbol of divinity, supreme art and harmony, we bring praise as tribute before you", and the piece concludes with Mezzo-soprano, Tenor and—finally—Chorus singing "Ruling omnipotently over the earth, you lift man up to do glorious deeds. Come all peoples everywhere to Art. Let us sing its praises."
, but was not especially well received. Fifteen years later the critic Arthur Eaglefield Hull wrote that the First Symphony was "a masterly work of great beauty".
Alexander Scriabin
Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was a Russian composer and pianist who initially developed a lyrical and idiosyncratic tonal language inspired by the music of Frédéric Chopin. Quite independent of the innovations of Arnold Schoenberg, Scriabin developed an increasingly atonal musical system,...
's Symphony No. 1, Op. 26, in E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
was written in 1899 and 1900. It is an ambitious first symphony, consisting of six movements the last of which has a chorus and two vocal soloists.
- I. Lento
- II. Allegro dramatico
- III. Lento
- IV. Vivace
- V. Allegro
- VI. Andante
Finale
The finale is a paeanPaean
A paean is a song or lyric poem expressing triumph or thanksgiving. In classical antiquity, it is usually performed by a chorus, but some examples seem intended for an individual voice...
to the sovereignty of Art, a theme common in Scriabin's works. The Mezzo-soprano begins the movement with "O highest symbol of divinity, supreme art and harmony, we bring praise as tribute before you", and the piece concludes with Mezzo-soprano, Tenor and—finally—Chorus singing "Ruling omnipotently over the earth, you lift man up to do glorious deeds. Come all peoples everywhere to Art. Let us sing its praises."
History
The symphony had its first performance in Moscow in March 1901 under the direction of Vasily SafonovVasily Ilyich Safonov
Vasily Ilyich Safonov was a Russian pianist, teacher, conductor and composer.Safonov, or Safonoff as he was known in the West during his lifetime, was born at Itschory, Russian Caucasus, the son of a Russian officer of Cossacks. He was educated at the Imperial Alexandra Lyceum, Saint Petersburg,...
, but was not especially well received. Fifteen years later the critic Arthur Eaglefield Hull wrote that the First Symphony was "a masterly work of great beauty".