Scriabin - Piano Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.6

Composer: Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (6 January 1872 – 27 April 1915) Work Title: Piano Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.6 Performer: Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (piano) 0:04 - I. Allegro con fuoco 6:37 - II. Adagio 11:25 - III. Presto 14:45 - IV. Funebre The first movement (0:04), “Allegro con fuoco“, starts with a very dark and passionate opening theme. This grows into a slightly more optimistic climax, but descends again into a forlorn close to the theme. It continues with a melancholy second theme in A-flat major which builds up to the very majestic ending of the 1st movement’s exposition. There is a turbulent development section, followed by a recapitulation of the two main themes, in slightly varied form and with the modulations altered to bring the second theme back in F major. The movement ends very quietly, vacillating uncertainly between F minor and major, before settling for F major in the very last sustained chord. The second movement (6:37), in C minor, is a very sad “Adagio“ in ternary form, ending quietly in C major. The third movement (11:25), “Presto“, in F minor again, is in a rather condensed and compact Rondo form. The movement is harsh and agitated, relieved briefly only by the more tender middle theme in A-flat major, and angrily hammers into an unresolved end, which is resolved in the final slow movement (14:45), the “Funèbre“, again in F minor, and similar in mood to the funeral march of Chopin’s second piano sonata. The gloom is unrelieved right up to the bleak ending in F minor. The sonata was published by the prestigious publishing house owned by M.P. Belaieff in 1895 initially as a Sonatina, only later as a sonata. Source: (Scriabin) Source videos: 1st movement: 2nd movement: 3rd movement: 4th movement: