Horowitz plays Sonata No.9 Op.68 "Black Mass"

A.Scriabin Sonata Op.68 "Black Mass"

Vladimir Horowitz,Piano


The Piano Sonata No. 9, opus 68, commonly known as the Black Mass Sonata, is one of the late piano sonatas composed by Alexander Scriabin. The work was written around 1912--1913, and although its nickname was not invented by Scriabin—who did however refer to his Seventh Sonata as White Mass—he personally approved of it.

The ninth sonata spans a single movement, typically lasting 8--10 minutes, marked as follows: 1. Moderato quasi andante - Molto meno vivo - Allegro molto - Alla marcia - Allegro - Presto

Like Scriabin's other late works, the piece is highly chromatic and atonal. The Black Mass Sonata is particularly dissonant because many of its themes are based around an interval of a minor ninth, one of the most unstable sounds. The ninth sonata is an unmistakable masterpiece; notable Scriabin contemporaries such as Igor Stravinsky praised it.Its marking 'legendaire' exactly captures the sense of distant mysterious wailing which grows in force and menace.The opening theme is constantly transformed, from the early trill arpeggio's sounding unsettling and then completely shifting, eventually tumbling in rapid cascades into a grotesque march. Scriabin builds a continuous structure of mounting complexity and tension, and pursues the combination of themes with unusual tenacity, eventually reaching a climax as harsh as anything in his music.The piece ends with the original theme reinstated.

Like Scriabin's other sonatas, it is both technically and musically highly demanding for the pianist, sometimes extending to three staves as opposed to the standard two used in piano music.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Horowitz
• Scriabin
• Black
• Mass
• Op
• 68
• Sonata

[minirausch]

truly schizophrenic, i love love love horowitz's scriabin....

[GregLile]

If you think this is sex, listen to Scriabin Sonata No. 5 (by Horowitz.)

[OldSchopenhauer]

@zombiepunkthrash666 Scriabin was a member of the Theosophical society. He was a religious man, although a very heterodox one.

[zombiepunkthrash666]

the person who disliked this is a religious scum

[JocastaViridian]

I'm not usually a fan of atonal music, but this piece paints such a vivid image. It's awesome.

[f1f1s]

He was considered a great sinner by contemporaries. Wnen he hurt his hand and couldn't perform (age 20), and was consequently cured, he wrote an enraged letter to God, in which Scriabin generously forgave God he had overthrown. Later he considered himself the Creator.

Besides that, he had a phobia for infection, often washed his hands; he ate neither a cookie that has fallen on a tablecloth nor a soft boiled egg ("What if a hen who laid it was phthisic?"). He died of streptococcus (sic!) on lip.

[chadmaster410]

 how scary

[MEpianist]

Why the FUCK did Scriabin have to die?!!??!!?

[dfairbanks06]

@dfairbanks06 ahaha shit i mixed up my music...my bad. no need to hate.

[Bendertoo]

@dfairbanks06 it's not a song asshole ...

[voyagerlegends]

Stanislav Yovanovitch has more dark atmosphere and is less fussy.

[ibclappin]

i like the picture; it's like he's busta rhymes going whaaaaaattt!

or maybe it was right when his wife slapped him across the face to get his attention while he was staring at the skies or something and ignoring her