Pasternak - Piano Sonata in B minor (Part 2/2)

Piano Sonata in B minor (1909)

Boris Pasternak (1890-1960) was a world-renowned Russian writer and poet best known for his work, "Doctor Zhivago." However, before his plunge into philosophy and literature, he was an enthusiast of Scriabin and attended the Moscow Conservatory in hopes of becoming a composer. There are at least three surviving and published compositions from his student years. This sonata is one of them and oozes a sound world indebted to Scriabin. Despite the scriabinesque influence, the sonata is expertly crafted and engaging. One might wonder if Russia lost a promising composer when Pasternak abandoned music in favor of a career in writing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pasternak
• scriabin
• feinberg
• roslavets
• lyatoshynsky
• shostakovich
• prokofiev
• szymanowski
• bax

[eldonstrombert]

Suppose there is a listener outthere somewhere, with no musical training, who could replicate this piece and no one would know the difference

[Hexameron]

So someone with no knowledge of theory, form, phrase structure, harmonic function, modulation, and writing for the piano "could replicate this piece and no one would know the difference"?

Please tell me that's not what you're implying.

[evolsieilrak]

This is VERY interesting!  Thanks!

[NOSEhow2LIV]

Absolutely gripping. Imagine you hadn't read the info; to whom would you ascribe this work?Obviously Skriabin has the major influence, but is it possible Pasternak had already heard Berg's op.1?(in b-minor!). If not,then it's a prime example of expressionist Zeitgeist! And what a fine impassioned interpretation: a Poetess/Author/Composer/Pianis­t plays work by a Poet/Author/Composer/Philosoph­er. An unusual occurence and one i've much enjoyed. Thank you.

[TheophilusAmadeus]

@eldonstrombert That's just ignorant. I suppose I know what you mean, but that is not at all what you're saying. You should think about the difference in talking about your own feelings towards something and explaining them ad rem and what you're actually talking about. Your statement explains your personal opinion about the music but has nothing to do with reality.

Excuse my english.

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

@Hexameron Maybe not what he is implying, but I surely believe is possible for 'a natural'

[hoek2000]

Very impressive.. this could be passed off as a lost work of scriabin! I love the theme.

[mikejr41387]

love it.