Description
Russian composer Alexander Skryabin's life spanned the late romantic era and the momentous early years of the twentieth century, but was cut short before the end of the first world war. In a predominantly conservative era in the Russian musical scene, he drew inspiration from poets, philosophers, and dramatists of the Silver Age, a period of radical artistic renewal in Russia. Possessed by an apocalyptic vision of transformation, aspects of which he shared with other Russian thinkers and artists of the period, Skryabin transformed his musical language from a ripe Romantic style into a far-reaching, radical instrument for the expression of his ideas. This newly translated collection of the composer's writings and letters allows readers to experience and understand Skryabin's worldview, personality, and life as never before. The Notebooks of Alexander Skryabin features commentary based on original materials and accounts by the composer's friends and associates, dispelling popular misconceptions about his life and revealing the dazzling constellation of philosophies that comprised his world of ideas, from Ancient Greek and German Idealist philosophy to the writings of Nietzsche, and Indian culture to the Theosophical writings of H. P. Blavatsky. Close textual readings and new biographical insights converge to present a vivid impression of Skryabin's thought and its impact on his musical compositions.
About the Author
Simon Nicholls is a pianist, teacher and independent researcher who has performed and broadcast internationally. In 2007 he taught a masterclass at the Skryabin Memorial Museum, and in the Skryabin centenary year, 2015, he gave a number of lecture-recitals on Skryabin in Britain and France. He is an Honorary Fellow of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Michael Pushkin is Russian language coach for singers at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Previously, he taught Russian literature, history, and language at the University of Birmingham and other universities. He has published articles on the social history of the nineteenth-century Russian intelligentsia and on the poet Andrei Voznesensky.
Reviews
Truly an essential addition to Scriabin literature... Lucidly translated and richly annotated * BBC Music Magazine *
Now an English-speaking scholar or performer can learn about the ways in which Scriabin was understood one hundred years ago in Russia and is still sometimes understood today. This makes for a fascinating network-like book whose structure invites multiple readings. * Nikita Braguinski, Notes *
Nicholls and Pushkin have bested the beast; their edition is excellent [...] * Music and Letters *
A useful and appealing introduction to Skriabin, The Notebooks promise to become an indispensable companion for scholars, students, pianists, and music lovers alike. * Polina Dimova, University of Denver, Slavic Review *
...the Gershenzon collection of Scriabin's writings is an important testament to the Orphic moment. Nicholls and Pushkin's translation will finally allow Anglophone readers the opportunity to pierce the veil of secondary commentary on Scriabin woven for over a century. * Anna Gawboy, Music Theory Spectrum *
Of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience (from scholars of Russian history and culture to musicologists), this invaluable publication provides insight into ideas that both shaped Skriabin's personal creative world and resonated with many of his contemporaries. * Rebecca Mitchell, The Slavonic and East European Review *
For those admirers of the composer unable to access or unable to read Gershenzon's publication, this careful translation will be welcome [] a fine translation. * David Haas, The Russian Review *
Of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience (from scholars of Russian history and culture to musicologists), this invaluable publication provides insight into ideas that both shaped Skriabin's personal creative world and resonated with many of his contemporaries...It is hoped that this publication will give impetus to future English-language translations of key Skriabin texts * Rebecca Mitchell, Middlebury College, Slavonic and East European Review *
This lucid translation helps piano lovers to understand the literary expression of a major keyboard composer. * International Piano Magazine *
This book provides a multifaceted insight into Scriabin's developing thought process, the context of his work, and his thoughts about philosophy and art. * CHOICE *
This slim yet scholarly volume is truly an essential addition to Scriabin literature. The composer's notebooks -- covering virtually all his major works -- are lucidly translated and richly annotated by pianist and scholar Simon Nicholls, who also includes a pithily informative biography, plenty of photographs, and a detailed account of the intellectual ferment from which Scriabin drew his ideas: a heady mix of Symbolism, philosophy, new theories on psychology, and the then influential teachings of Theosophy ... Nicholls shows how Scriabin's one time acolyte and first biographer, Leonid Sabaneyev, did much to destroy the composer's posthumous credibility by presenting him through the distorting lens of Cesare Lombroso's now discredited theory that genius was akin to mental disease. * Daniel Jaffe, BBC Music Magazine *
A splendidly researched volume, and an endlessly fascinating piece of scholarship. I learned a great deal from it, and it will prove essential to anyone wishing to probe deeper into Skryabin's world. The book is an immensely valuable addition to our understanding of every aspect of this most enigmatic of Russian composers. * Marc Andre Hamelin, pianist *
The Notebooks of Alexander Skryabin brings to life the previously unpublished confessions from the composer's secret journals in fresh, modern translations. Simon Nicholls lends historical context and insightful perspective to Skryabin's profound and provocative theories. Now that Skryabin's philosophical thinking has earned a critical respect it deserves, this book promises to become an essential resource for students and scholars. * Lincoln Ballard, Instructor of Music at National University, and co-author of The Alexander Scriabin Companion *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190863661
Author Simon Nicholls
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 157mm * 236mm * 25mm
About the Author
Simon Nicholls is a pianist, teacher and independent researcher who has performed and broadcast internationally. In 2007 he taught a masterclass at the Skryabin Memorial Museum, and in the Skryabin centenary year, 2015, he gave a number of lecture-recitals on Skryabin in Britain and France. He is an Honorary Fellow of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Michael Pushkin is Russian language coach for singers at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Previously, he taught Russian literature, history, and language at the University of Birmingham and other universities. He has published articles on the social history of the nineteenth-century Russian intelligentsia and on the poet Andrei Voznesensky.
Reviews
Truly an essential addition to Scriabin literature... Lucidly translated and richly annotated * BBC Music Magazine *
Now an English-speaking scholar or performer can learn about the ways in which Scriabin was understood one hundred years ago in Russia and is still sometimes understood today. This makes for a fascinating network-like book whose structure invites multiple readings. * Nikita Braguinski, Notes *
Nicholls and Pushkin have bested the beast; their edition is excellent [...] * Music and Letters *
A useful and appealing introduction to Skriabin, The Notebooks promise to become an indispensable companion for scholars, students, pianists, and music lovers alike. * Polina Dimova, University of Denver, Slavic Review *
...the Gershenzon collection of Scriabin's writings is an important testament to the Orphic moment. Nicholls and Pushkin's translation will finally allow Anglophone readers the opportunity to pierce the veil of secondary commentary on Scriabin woven for over a century. * Anna Gawboy, Music Theory Spectrum *
Of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience (from scholars of Russian history and culture to musicologists), this invaluable publication provides insight into ideas that both shaped Skriabin's personal creative world and resonated with many of his contemporaries. * Rebecca Mitchell, The Slavonic and East European Review *
For those admirers of the composer unable to access or unable to read Gershenzon's publication, this careful translation will be welcome [] a fine translation. * David Haas, The Russian Review *
Of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience (from scholars of Russian history and culture to musicologists), this invaluable publication provides insight into ideas that both shaped Skriabin's personal creative world and resonated with many of his contemporaries...It is hoped that this publication will give impetus to future English-language translations of key Skriabin texts * Rebecca Mitchell, Middlebury College, Slavonic and East European Review *
This lucid translation helps piano lovers to understand the literary expression of a major keyboard composer. * International Piano Magazine *
This book provides a multifaceted insight into Scriabin's developing thought process, the context of his work, and his thoughts about philosophy and art. * CHOICE *
This slim yet scholarly volume is truly an essential addition to Scriabin literature. The composer's notebooks -- covering virtually all his major works -- are lucidly translated and richly annotated by pianist and scholar Simon Nicholls, who also includes a pithily informative biography, plenty of photographs, and a detailed account of the intellectual ferment from which Scriabin drew his ideas: a heady mix of Symbolism, philosophy, new theories on psychology, and the then influential teachings of Theosophy ... Nicholls shows how Scriabin's one time acolyte and first biographer, Leonid Sabaneyev, did much to destroy the composer's posthumous credibility by presenting him through the distorting lens of Cesare Lombroso's now discredited theory that genius was akin to mental disease. * Daniel Jaffe, BBC Music Magazine *
A splendidly researched volume, and an endlessly fascinating piece of scholarship. I learned a great deal from it, and it will prove essential to anyone wishing to probe deeper into Skryabin's world. The book is an immensely valuable addition to our understanding of every aspect of this most enigmatic of Russian composers. * Marc Andre Hamelin, pianist *
The Notebooks of Alexander Skryabin brings to life the previously unpublished confessions from the composer's secret journals in fresh, modern translations. Simon Nicholls lends historical context and insightful perspective to Skryabin's profound and provocative theories. Now that Skryabin's philosophical thinking has earned a critical respect it deserves, this book promises to become an essential resource for students and scholars. * Lincoln Ballard, Instructor of Music at National University, and co-author of The Alexander Scriabin Companion *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190863661
Author Simon Nicholls
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 157mm * 236mm * 25mm
