Scriabin: Sonatas 1, 6 & 9; Preludes Op 48 & Op 74 - Robert Taub (piano) / Harmonia Mundi Audio CD / HMU 907019

UPC 093046701925

Product Details

• Label: Harmonia Mundi – HMU 907019
• Format: CD, Album
• Country: US
• Released: 1990
• Genre: Classical

Overview

This album, featuring pianist Robert Taub, presents a selection of works by the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, known for his intensely emotional and often mystical piano compositions. The CD includes three of Scriabin's notable piano sonatas—Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6; Sonata No. 6 in Op. 62; and Sonata No. 9 in Op. 68, also known as the "Black Mass." Additionally, the album includes two sets of preludes, Op. 48 and Op. 74, that display Scriabin's stylistic development from his early works to his later, more complex compositions.

Scriabin's music is marked by vivid emotional expression and intricate harmonic structures. The Sonatas, particularly the first and ninth, are imbued with the themes of his later works, combining virtuosic pianism with mysticism and transcendental thought. The preludes provide insight into Scriabin's skill at miniature musical expressions, each piece brimming with character and emotive power.

Track Listing

Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6

1. Allegro Con Fuoco – 9:45
2. (Andante) – 4:32
3. Presto – 3:30
4. Funebre – 5:29

Four Preludes, Op. 48

1. Impetuoso, Fiero – 0:35
2. Poetico Con Delizia – 1:10
3. Capricciosamente Affannato – 0:39
4. Festivamente – 0:51

Sonata No. 6, Op. 62 (In One Movement)

1. Sonata No. 6 – 12:20

Five Preludes, Op. 74

1. Douloureux, Déchirant – 1:11
2. Tres Lent, Contemplatif – 1:38
3. Allegro Dramatico – 0:35
4. Lent, Vague, Indecis – 1:43
5. Fier, Belliqueux – 0:49

Sonata No. 9, Op. 68, "Black Mass" (In One Movement)

1. Sonata No. 9 – 9:06

Credits

• Piano: Robert Taub
• Engineer: Steve Portnoi
• Executive Producer: Robina Young
• Producer: Paul Spicer