Eiges - Piano Sonata-Toccata No. 4

Piano Sonata-Toccata No. 4 (1945)

Oleg Eiges (1905-1992) was a peripheral Soviet composer who did not enjoy much of an international reputation, but was highly respected by Russia's musical elite, namely Feinberg and Roslavets, who praised his pianism and compositions. Oleg was the son of Konstantin Eiges, the teacher of Stanchinsky, and studied under Anatoly Alexandrov at the Moscow Conservatory. He later befriended Shostakovich and even studied under the renowned Busoni pupil, Egon Petri, in Berlin between 1928 and 1929. Eiges was one of the many Soviet composers denounced for writing "formalist" music and was specifically targeted in the Central Committee's Resolution of 1948.

Little is known about Eiges' compositional trajectory and how his style evolved, but he wrote twenty symphonies, five concerti, chamber music, an opera, and twelve piano sonatas. In his early works, Eiges' aesthetics owe much to Scriabin. It was his Scriabinesque First Piano Sonata (1926) that spurred Roslavets into writing an enthusiastic review. Although Eiges' style would have changed since the 1930s, many of his works are heavily influenced by Scriabin, Medtner, and Prokofiev.

*Special thanks to nikkapfan who recommended I look into this composer's work, and for providing this recording and the score.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• oleg
• eiges
• scriabin
• medtner
• shostakovich

[npelletier89]

Again, I had to post at how jaw-dropping this is! Right at 1:22, the silence then goes into one of the scariest lines of music I've heard...one that always gives me goosebumps.

[Hexameron]

I'm glad you like this, but scary? Hmm... I've heard a lot of piano music that could be described as frightening, disturbing, eerie, and "scary," but I don't think of this sonata.

Have you heard Mosolov, Protopopov, Feinberg, and Wyschnegradsky's quarter tone music? That's the kind of stuff that gives *me* goosebumps.

[scriabinwasmydad]

amazing upload! by far the best channel I have ever encountered on YT!

[mtybumpo]

I rarely comment on anything posted to Youtube but this is Absolutely stunning! It sends chills down my spine every time I hear it! Thank you for posting it so I could have to opportunity to discover and hear such a masterpiece!

[coaster1000]

Great music - interestingly, the first full bar is nearly identical to that of Scriabin's 3rd...

[afertyus1000]

@Hexameron fantastic find thanks

[afertyus1000]

@titusbeertsen yea a bit

[TheWanderingNight]

The themes sound awfully modern. One can imagine them being used in today's video game or film music, but most likely not to the sophistication of development here.

[titusbeertsen]

The beginning makes me think of Scriabin's 3rd sonata.

[hailkayy]

@MissIdioms lol yeah

[diuleelomei]

Who was the pianist of this piece? Great performance!

[MissIdioms]

Ahhhhh stirring stuff

[ssdamouni]

@hailkayy that would be awesome. I sent you a message with my email address please tell me if there is a problem with it.