Alexander Scriabin plays Scriabin

[@titouangadeyne1419]

Préludes: 00:00 - Op.11 No.1 00:48 - Op.11 No.2 02:24 - Op.11 No.13 04:04 - Op.11 No.14 04:46 - Op.22 No.1 Mazurka: 05:56 - Op.40 No.2 Désir: 06:46 - Op.57 No.1 Etude: 08:04 - Op.8 No.12 Poème: 09:50 - Op.32 No.1

[@dodecachordon]

Titeyn Wappa thank you!

[@herlizvolcato7777]

@@dodecachordon i

[@johnhealey6455]

A musical genius of the highest order. Scriabin is my all-time favorite composer. His music is a gift to the world that will last forever.

[@billmarrufo]

My all-time favorite too!

[@nilskroehl]

Same

[@MIS-il2ou]

❤❤❤👍👍👍

[@alisalegato]

Безмерно люблю Скрябина ❤❤❤

[@ИванДемидов-г1о]

But Rach…

[@thatwilldonicely1314]

it's a miracle to hear the chosen one play

[@marcfedak]

Wow, what an honour to hear Scriabin playing his own beautiful compositions 110 years later. .

[@ammyvl1]

it's a piano roll

[@tango_doggy]

@@ammyvl1 close enough

[@albertpeckham8708]

He understood that music is elastic. It stretches and expands. He proved it!

[@mairaleikarte43]

🤩🤔👍👍👍💤

[@tomjung1067]

yes music is a living thing

[@luizmelofilho]

Not only music, us, humans. We are elastic. He is just translating his mind, his feelings, his thoughts and how they are constructed into sound. He's exploring sound and time in a much more complex way to translate himself.

[@TheStockwell]

Most piano rolls only play music back at a constant tempo with unvarying volume. The Welte Mignon and Ampico piano systems were in a class of their own. Besides accurately copying whatever the pianist was doing with his fingers, they also reproduced the pedal action to capture the dynamics. Part of producing the rolls was to bring the pianist back to hear the final result. When Rachmaninoff listened to the playback of his Ampico rolls, he said something along the lines of, "Thank you, gentlemen. I've finally heard what I sound like."

[@piano_man3404]

do you know which "piano system" was used for this?

[@JohnGaroPiano]

@@piano_man3404 Welte Mignon recordings from 1910

[@cziffra1980]

Only the later Ampicos captured dynamics. The early ones were pretty useless. The late Rachmaninoff roll of the Elegie is a lot more revealing than the early ones.

[@pianolainstitute]

There is some very muddled thinking going on here! Firstly, normal piano rolls only play back at a constant tempo and with unvarying volume if you fail to move the tempo lever at all, and if you either use an electric suction pump or pedal at a constant level. Normal piano rolls were intended to provide the notes alone, with the intention that the pianola player would make their own interpretation by careful and constant moving of the tempo lever, and delicate use of the foot pedals. The fact that most uploaders to KZbin don't do that is not the fault of the piano rolls. Secondly, the only reproducing piano system which was capable of recording dynamics and converting them to the dynamic coding that the system needed was the Welte-Mignon, not the Ampico. There were two Ampico patents for the recording of dynamics, both of which needed human editors to convert the individual note dynamics to Ampico coding, which, like all other reproducing pianos, was only capable of providing one dynamic level for bass and one dynamic level for treble at any given instant. If you want to find out more, read the pages on the individual reproducing piano systems on www.pianola.org.

[@etuden88]

Those who are making comments about Scriabin's interpretation of his own works being sub-par really and truly do not understand the art of music and rely on mechanical interpretations of arbitrary markings on a page to judge the quality of a performance. Scriabin was probably the greatest master of rubato, and in his own works especially, he proves this mastery again and again (much to the chagrin of those who have no proper understanding of rubato as played during this golden age of piano performance). Just listen to the B-section of the Poeme Op. 32 No. 1 to see what I mean. The "eccentricity" of his playing is actually his tremendous command of rubato that appears to be "baffling" to many. If you are using today's performances as a basis for what "good" playing is, then you are trapped in the mechanical confines of the robotic pianism that defines much of piano performance today. Get a grip people. This is the composer playing. And if any pianist today can FEEL the music instead of constantly judging theirs and others' ability to imitate markings on a page, then they deserve all the gold medals at all the piano competitions in the world. EDIT: Also, in regards to the particularly controversial recording of Op. 11, No. 2 per the comments below, keep in mind that this piece is essentially a waltz. Most performances today for whatever reason choose not to play the piece per the composer's markings (ironically, per my diatribe above), which is riddled with ritardandos and a tempos (the tempo is Allegretto) that make the piece sound like it's constantly slowing down and hurrying up. But the piece itself should be played somewhat quickly and should have a waltz flair, which Scriabin captures here. While he may be playing a bit faster than Allegretto in places, please keep in mind: RUBATO. Vladimir Sofronitsky's (Scriabin's son-in-law) recording of this piece is perhaps one of the closest analogs to the composer's. Unfortunately, this particular recording is terrible due to the lack of dynamics (which is not the composer's fault since these rolls cannot adequately "capture" dynamics).

[@etuden88]

+toothless toe Of course--this wasn't meant to be a direct response to you, and I apologize if it seemed that way. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about any musical interpretation. Period. Though there are comments here directly indicting the composer's ability to understand or adequately interpret his own music--that's what I was responding to.

[@davidpolkmusic]

nathan...you NAILED IT with your comment. you are sooooooooo right about everything you said. it absolutely breaks my heart when i hear the unparalleled beauty that scriabin conjured because this style of playing has been abandoned. scriabin basically invented a way of playing that makes music a living thing. if you arent blown away by his playing then you are ignorant or deficient. I want so badly for the classical world to wake up and take heed of his example and let classical music live outside of the museum-morgue in which it currently resides......

[@JuanManuelBordiga]

Hi Nathan, I agree in everything you said. I only can add that maybe unfortunately, our hero comes to Welke- Mignon in a time when they do not have the last upgrade of their machines. If you hear the Gustav Mahler's piano recordings with the same rolls, you can perceive a big difference because Mahler came there in the peak of their developings.

[@etuden88]

Thanks, +David R. Polk. While I'm loath to describe those that aren't impressed by Scriabin's playing as "ignorant" or "deficient" (since this is entering the dangerous terrain of judging opinion) I will say that his playing deserves respect and the willingness of listeners to, at the very least, understand the technique Scriabin brings to the table before passing judgment on his abilities as a performer. Even Rachmaninoff, who was Scriabin's close friend during their adolescence, had difficulties coming to terms with Scriabin's style--and did, allegedly, have trouble interpreting the latter's works to critical satisfaction. However, I think Rachmaninoff's association with Scriabin helped him to be more "open" with his own interpretations, with several of his recordings (i.e. Chopin's Waltz in A flat, Op.64/3) deviating drastically from the composer's written intentions, often to a very remarkable effect. In the end, interpretations can be liked or disliked, but a performer of such great skill and confidence such as Scriabin must, at the very least, be respected for his art.

[@kyrvhy]

Still, though, the pneumatic action of the Welte-Mignon is one of the best for dynamics.

[@opsalazar65]

He was indeed a great composer!!! And an excellent pianist. This is just fantastic.

[@johnsardo7499]

Artistic genius of the highest magnitude

Piano rolls are so magic...Like something from the future...You could hear your favorite composer literally playing for you at your living room while you drink some wine in a comfy couch sitting in front of a fireplace. Magic...just, magic...

[@lucasrem]

Scriabin plays Scriabin, magic... i found some FLAC files that needed some editing still, removing the crappy shit from the old waxed roles, more sound reveals...

[@metteholm4833]

The late roll technology was very sophisticated.

[@The1976spirit]

Take a closer look! At the fireplace sits Claude Debussy, a magic wand in is right , his left hand holds a german beer. He teaches his young apprentice Konrad Adenauer how to spoil gallons of wine into the river Rhine. The sinister ceremony started with this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHrPZnymntt0f9E You d better had overwatched your lving room

[@jean-jacqueskaselorganreco6879]

if they are not tuned up...like was already done for some CD's with recordings of Friedmann

[@fredrickroll06]

Op. 8 No. 12 is really thrilling!

[@jake_fx]

And prelude 14

[@militarydeviltube5014]

The first piece is one of my favourite piano pieces ever.

[@djvef1original]

me too

[@militarydeviltube5014]

@@djvef1original 🤎

[@sarahdubois2386]

so grateful that we can hear Scriabin playing his own music!

[@LylyaMusic]

It is so wonderful that we can hear him playing!!! 🙏

[@maximiliennoel3447]

thanks to Mr. Edwin Welte for having imagined this amazing recording process

[@musimedmusi8736]

Thank you SO much for putting this out. You’ve done us all a great service.

[@frankfeldman6657]

This is so liberating! Absolutely just as crazy as you would expect/would have hoped. In the best of ways.

[@SherryGrant]

Not forgetting that he was a fine poet in his time too! Looking up to my all-time favourite composer Scriabin, I have taken up poetry writing too in June 2020. I aspire to his genius in poetry and music... and have the utmost respect for him as the ideal artist who painted with his words and music... I wish to do the same... hope to organise a Scriabin festival for the Australasian region in the near future! Oh and I wrote a poem dedicated to Scriabin, Sofronitsky and Sofronitsky’s daughter a few days ago titled ‘Mystic Garden’ (Op.1112)...

[@nunyanunya6398]

So..how do we read this poem? Askin for a friend

[@SherryGrant]

@@nunyanunya6398 At the moment I am still sharing privately via email, until my new website is ready...

[@rhyscollins9212]

@@nunyanunya6398 For that friend of yours, I've also written some poems inspired by Scriabin in his work on my website. It's rhyscollins.com if you're interested; feel free to check it out :) The poems inspired by Scriabin should be Viola Incisa, Aubade Below the Bronze Horseman, Poem Locked at the Bottom of the Dnieper and Pushkin's Farewell to the Black Sea. Enjoy! :D

[@aldorossi3177]

passion and great pianistic technique.

[@kyrvhy]

Thank you Nathan Cranford. So many robots today; playing to the markings and tempo. We forget Musicality and Individuality are Good things especially at a level of understanding such as Scriabin demonstrates. Thank you IMasterful for sharing with us.

[@wellknown3249]

Demagogs are the problem today. Just notice how strong scriabin even changes rhythm. If you do that people say you are an ignorant pianist.

[@wowchaos9868]

Désir: 06:46 - Op.57 No.1 Etude: 08:04 - Op.8 No.12 Poème: 09:50 - Op.32 No.1 amazing ！wonderful ！

[@tylerbrandon460]

When listen to Scribian it sounds as if you dropped an insane, musical genuious who has never heard what music is "supposed" to sound like on an island with a piano. That's why I love it.

[@Συναισθησις]

Bullshit

[@aldorossi3177]

loneliness invites meditation and evoques tranquility

[@aldoringo439]

Your telling me that out of hundreds of millions of musicians, only 105,000 are interested in hearing this great composer playing his own great works?

[@voraciousreader3341]

Obviously, you don’t know how KZbin works. Most people don’t know this video is here, nor that the technology was even possible, so how would they search for it? And the biggest issue is the _ginormous_ KZbin library, so the vast majority of people find out about videos via the incomprehensible logarithm used by this platform, which is how I found out about this. I watch at least 50 videos of classical pianists a week-most of which have been in my recommendations-and have for years and years, and I have even heard Rachmaninov play _his_ pieces from piano rolls, but today is the first time this video has been recommended to me. So there’s no big mystery, and there’s no conspiracy or lack of taste on the part of “millions of musicians:” Nobody is slighting Scriabin….it’s the infamous KZbin logarithm. You could always share it, if you want people to know about it!

[@jamshutjamshutovich7949]

Best Composer!!!!

[@Luca-yg5qx]

Agree

[@billmarrufo]

Agreed here too! Overall favourite.

[@johnhealey6455]

The greatest. I agree.

[@nadezhdayotzova5318]

Thank you! A pure treasure...

[@MalabarTheGreat]

This man was born on Christmas and died on Easter lmao.

[@karrotkake]

proof that scriabin is jesus

[@vpdemantova]

@@karrotkakelol ❤

[@lamxalfred1464]

stunning, breathtaking

[@henrynash4402]

When Scriabin went on tour in 1894, he already had an extreme grasp of how to interpret his phenomenal music. I ONLY WISH THAT HE HAD FULLY REALISED HIS MYSTERIUM AND PERFORMED IT BEFORE HE 'GRADUATED' IN 1915. Koussevitsky had offered Scriabin five thousand rubles per year for five years to perform it. Scriabin said he was making more than that as a student. At any rate, the Mysterium was finished by Ashkenazy with recent performances to amazed audiences! Kevin GIBSON

[@lucasrem]

Henry Nash He realized that he was gifted, insane too, many times these things come together. Mysterium was never finished, became some other project..

[@brucedavies8154]

Hi just want to point out it was Alexander Nemtin who finished the piece and turned it into a performable piece. He dedicated 28 years to it !

[@Συναισθησις]

Nemtin's completion is terrible and doesn't even mobilise Scriabin's chromatic circle correctly. Fit for an SF movie soundtrack.

[@Whatismusic123]

​@@brucedavies8154yeah and it's absolute garbage

[@ScriabinOTBeach]

​@brucedavies8154 not to mention he only realized the first portion of what we had of Mysterium. Not the complete work by any means and far from it

[@oliviali6282]

The fact that it was recorded so well is astonishing

[@agamaz5650]

piano roll

[@CA-es2pf]

Somethings not right

[@erezsolomon3838]

@@CA-es2pf no conspiracy theories here! It's a piano roll

[@milatanina]

Мой гений. Совершенство.

[@frankfeldman6657]

As wonderfully loony as one would expect or hope for. Thanks for this.

[@afroatheist-isnowafroantit6154]

Sounds quite beautiful....🎈🪄🎊🎉🎁🎀👀🍷

[@ronl7131]

....Scriabin music very interesting...

[@amielgonzaga5239]

Escuchar a Scriabin interpretar sus propias piezas es una de las experiencias más maravillosas de la vida...

[@MalabarTheGreat]

SI!

[@billmarrufo]

Mi madre terminó su carrera y se recibió de soprano de ópera allá por el año 1935-36 en mi querida Universidad de Nuevo León; mi padre fue un "dilettante" a morir. Entonces, escuché música clásica desde adolescente, sin embargo, fue hasta hace unos 8 o 9 que realmente descubrí a Scriabin. Fue amor a primer oído. Antes de eso, una sola vez había oído su Op. 8, No. 12 y me había gustado mucho. Para mi es el #1.

[@fbh3872]

Skryabin was an extraordinary and original composer. Opus 8 No12 demonstrates that he was also an extraordinary pianist.

[@MrGer2295]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@gerardbedecarter]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@SherryGrant]

This is my favourite video that I watch regularly. By the way, I just finished hosting Hindemith & Copland International Music Festival online yesterday. Next year in Nov 2022 I’ll host an online Scriabin festival. Will start accepting call for submission in Jan 2022.

[@Poeme340]

“Desir”! Like skating on a frozen cloud. Singular!

[@ler_47]

Op.11 no.14 is just Amaazing..

[@emilyyyyyym]

Incredible

[@mirkojorgovic]

from 4 to 5min is very great pianist

[@eternalclassicsbrothers9636]

Amazing!!

[@nicolassimion6967]

this is amazing !

[@Courtneybenson907]

I literally just found out on Sunday that my grandfather’s wife (she’s not my grandmother) is Alexander Scriabin’s great niece. Her and my grandfather been married for 13 years, how come I’m just finding this out now 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@poo2uhaha]

That's so crazy! Have you found out anything else interesting since? Maybe she even met him at one point.

[@Courtneybenson907]

Poo2uhaha I don't think so but I saw on her desk a certificate from Russia celebrating the anniversary of his birth or something like that.

[@poo2uhaha]

@@Courtneybenson907 that's so cool 😊

[@SpaghettiToaster]

@@asdffghjklzxcvbnm4369 Russia was part of the USSR.

[@SpaghettiToaster]

@@asdffghjklzxcvbnm4369 It actually wouldn't. It would say the republic, oblast, krai and city of birth. Maybe there'd be a seal somewhere with a USSR insignia, I don't know, but it wouldn't be part of the main document.

[@chokolattecoffee]

Thank you very much!

[@TheSoulOfGenius]

That Mazuraka... Scriabin invented Jazz before Jazz was a thing. PROVE ME WRONG. That piece was written in 1903! This man was SO FAR AHEAD of his day. I dare to say this is the pinnacle of art, and as of today we have not surpassed it.

[@charlesduckettjr.800]

There are some moments in the preludes, esp. from 1903, that foreshadow jazz harmony. I can't remember right now which specific pieces, but they are there. Just moments of that. Scriabin had zero influence from America, musically. Yes he did a trip there but it was not to learn about American music. Turned out to be a disaster for him.Because of moral outrage, his first wife would not divorce him etc. All in the bios.

[@dallinfullmer3073]

Sounds to me to be looking backwards to the likes of Chopin even harmonically, Schoenberg would introduce his atonality 3 years later, Stravinsky would write the Rite of spring 9 years later. Scriabin at the time of most of these recording was pretty conventional and highly influenced by Chopin. It was later that he pushed tonal harmony to its absolute limits. I also have to say Jazz started as early as the late 19th century sooo idk just take all of this as you will.

[@vicentesamsa]

Listen to Beethoven piano sonata 32, third variation of arietta

[@MikeyOnKeys]

Jazz music is improvised, and I think Scriabin didn’t just improvise his mazurka, I think it was meticulously constructed. Jazz has a different language and has different ways of phrasing.

[@MikeyOnKeys]

To add to my previous reply after a while, Chick Corea likes Scriabin and actually has a video where he uses a Scriabin Prelude and improvises on it.

[@aldoringo439]

He"s so comfortable with dissonance. When Scriabin plays a diminished chord it sounds like a c major triad, when he plays B713flat or whatever it just sounds like a minor inverted

[@voraciousreader3341]

Are you really saying-or implying-that no other composer was comfortable with dissonance? As far back as the late 16th century, Carlo Gesualdo used chromatic dissonance of a kind not seen again until the 19th century. Bach did not constantly use dissonance, but he did freely when he felt it was appropriate to express certain biblical texts, and also in hi organ works, culminating with his “Art of Fugue,” which is full of complex chromaticism. Scriabin did not invent chromaticism for use in his compositions, and he certainly was not the only composer of his time who freely explored it.

[@Whatismusic123]

​@@voraciousreader3341he's saying that noone else does it well

[@lunagardvonbingen]

@@Whatismusic123 He is not implying any of those things... Why do people have to assume so much comparison?

[@Whatismusic123]

@@lunagardvonbingen because they would be true

[@realmirage]

Awwwwwww I like it so much!!

[@samsilva3625]

Oh my god OH MY GOD!!!!!!

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

At least someone who is understanding something .

[@aramzulumyan6380]

Amen

[@aramzulumyan6380]

everything

[@MARTIN201199]

What a Pathetic Etude.

[@paulus5913]

Magnificent!

[@shimsham9113]

greatest composer of all time

[@brandonmacey964]

Unreal. This man is legendary. Look at that stash gentleman. Unbelievable game, with the dress, grooming, music skills. This guy could get the ladies weak in the knees.

[@Alix777.]

op.22 n.1 is so heartbreaking

[@fredericchopin7538]

Delightful!

[@tedpiano]

Do these piano rolls capture a sense of his dynamic finesse, or is that not recorded here -- because I've got a feeling that dynamics puts into context a lot about why he uses rubato the way that he does.

[@What-the-meow-meow]

I wanna pet his moustache :3

[@Luis.]

:3

[@TT-vf1sb]

Amazing! Can't believe he only can reach 8th!

[@dgcmusi]

And yet I remember playing a piece years ago with 10ths being played quickly in the left hand by him..

[@MalabarTheGreat]

@@dgcmusi He probably rolled those.

[@SCRIABINIST]

Hard to believe he didn't like his early works during his later years. Again, Scriabin has changed a lot by then.

[@ammyvl1]

I can believe it. his late works can't be put into words. his early works-while still way better than anything you or I will write-aren't quite of the same caliber. I love Scriabin so much

[@composerandreykudryavtsev7690]

Appreciate this pieces in the Scriabin late style! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6uYnYaCq9qIicU and kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHayhIOwbsx1b9U This year, January 6 marked the 150th anniversary of the Birth of Alexander Nikolaevich Scriabin. He is the person closest to me and beloved by me in the whole world of art, a composer who immerses with his magical music into the worlds of "the highest refinement and the highest grandeur." Having deeply passed through all his work, I learned to thoroughly reproduce the elements of the Scriabin style. In particular, the style of the works of his late creative period, sounding extraordinary, otherworldly, mystical... Using specific means, first of all harmony (as well as texture and tempo), I can "scriabe" any piece, melody or motive accordingly, without changing at all or almost without changing the notes of the melodic line of the original. And despite the fact that in this case I didn't even change a single note of the melody of the original holiday song "Happy birthday to you" kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHayhIOwbsx1b9U , in the end it sounds completely different: now it's not a "home holiday", but the image of a nervous-impetuous strong-willed flame characteristic of Scriabin! Also I "enchanted" the famous Christmas song "Jingle bells" kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6uYnYaCq9qIicU into a figurative sphere characteristic of Scriabin: now it is the most refined cosmic longing, gradually ecstatically excited, and then melting away...

[@950name]

he felt nothing for them, though said to sabaneev that he thougt he still played them pretty well

[@TheLifeisgood72]

the op 40 no 2 is the best performance of it

[@francodegrandis870]

Genio

[@erikasono565]

聴けば聴くほど、ロシア人作曲家の曲、特にスクリャービンのこういう曲では、雑味が音の豊かさに繋がっているのですね。きれいに弾き過ぎてはいけないわけね。 しかもそれは、リズムも同じ。まるで酔っ払いの足取りのように、微妙に崩れたリズムが、音楽のふくよかさを醸し出している。 ドイツ人なら、絶対にしないような音楽の創り方のような気はしますけれど。

[@WorldView22]

What a performance at Op.11 No.1! I tred to find another interpretation, including from Horowitz, Pletnev, Zarafiants, Kuznetsov, and even the very Sofronitsky, that could deliver the complexity and depth of the composer himself (even on a piano roll) and failed.

[@saya_i216]

心に来るものがあります。

[@pianofan1000]

wow!!

[@kennethbarbaralondon9048]

GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT

[@lucillebonds4332]

I applaud all of you for knowing music. Me, I know he is great because I don't even know how to play. Just love listening to it.

[@tamaskovacs7951]

!!!!Etude Op. 8 No. 12!!!!

[@boboranxu7174]

11-1のリズムの取り方が特徴的…

[@dgcmusi]

To think this genius could have taken an antibiotic today and that pimple under his mustache would have gone away....just horrible .

[@СергійТурлак]

But..

[@aldoringo439]

Its evident that scriaibin was slightly mad, or at least a bit strange and eccentric, but his interpretations confirm this.

[@Warp75]

Hallelujah

[@themoroccanpianist8953]

ah that etude , op 8 no 12, it kills me

[@Sosukz]

Russian know how to make music

[@Viktor-lp4cn]

Long Live Velte Mignon!

[@andream.464]

Finally I understand what "inaferando" means:))

[@mairaleikarte43]

🐻🍀🔑🦛🔔🗡️😅🎸

[@purpleAiPEy]

LOL. Only 2 results on google.. figured we had to go to the source.

[@hejhulaZmocalu]

OMG!

[@komitaskomitaskomitas]

8:46 thank you

[@АлександрРябов-ц6о]

Scriabin the best.

[@Bulbophile]

like all composers whom we say are great, motives are re-cycled to be used repeatedly across titles; sonata/prelude/etude

[@antoanelaudila7129]

Inalta societate din rusia imperiala isi spune cuvintul rusia imperiul rus a avut numai muzicieni mari ma aplec cu mare respect in fata lor

[@dered5548]

What a pure sound ? Is it real Scriabin record?

[@soongsoong123]

+de red I can't believe it, too

[@dered5548]

Maybe it was reformated ..

[@davidpolkmusic]

+de red it's a type of piano roll recording...so the recording is modern but the performance is definitely scriabin

[@rcorale]

+Dyuwa7 it's a piano roll

[@mirkojorgovic]

tempo of etude op8 no12 is like Horowitz

[@Santosificationable]

Fantastic, but does this reflect the real Scriabin playing accurately? I read somewhere that piano rolls are sped up versions of the original.

[@TheStockwell]

Most piano rolls only play music back at a constant tempo with unvarying volume. The Welte Mignon and Ampico piano systems were in a class of their own. Besides accurately copying whatever the pianist was doing with his fingers, they also reproduced the pedal action to capture the dynamics. Part of producing the rolls was to bring the pianist back to hear the final result. When Rachmaninoff listened to the playback of his Ampico rolls, he said something along the lines of, "Thank you, gentlemen. I've finally heard what I sound like."

[@穴穴-g9q]

素晴らしい😭

[@Viktor-lp4cn]

Down with the metronome!

[@emyrwyn604]

I would be really grateful if someone could explain how reliable a piano roll is! These recordings are wonderful, but do the tempi fluctuate between how Scriabin played them and how they are reproduced on a roll? Thanks in advance!

[@kalamari125]

Dynamics are of course off whenever it comes to piano rolls, but, the tempo of each piece (including the fluctuations) should be all Scriabin. He was well known for his rubato and the improvisatory feel of his playing.

[@andream.464]

The absolute speed and dynamics are decided by whomever starts the piano roll execution; but the relative speed and dynamics (accelerations, rubatos, ppp/fff etc) are quite reliable. The piano roll could not though capature the whole spectrum of dynamics of a great pianist, so only a small part of a great pianist's artistry can be appreciated.

[@MarcSofia]

I believe the op11 and op22 preludes and the étude are played by Scriabin. The rest is played by others.

[@etuden88]

+Marc Sofia No, unless you have reason to be certain about your statement, these are from the actual Welte-Mignon piano rolls created by Scriabin. They may sound different than other recordings of these rolls because every player piano sounds different and these do not sound as "remastered" as, say, this recording of the same rolls: www.amazon.com/Welte-Mignon-Recordings-Alexander-Scriabin/dp/B0001LY9VY.

[@MarcSofia]

Thanks Nathan Cranford for providing the link on Amazon. That CD info proves me right.

[@etuden88]

+Marc Sofia If you are referring to performances of other pianists on the same CD, every piece performed by Scriabin is accounted for in this upload. Moreover, since I have listened to this CD countless times I know (aside from the terrible dynamics of this upload) that each piece corresponds with the recordings of Scriabin on the CD. Please don't spread false information about a user's upload unless you are certain of your claim.

[@MarcSofia]

I see what you mean now. You are correct. I retract my comment.

[@etuden88]

Thanks +Marc Sofia. It's a completely honest mistake to make, especially when one considers how different these piano rolls sound on different pianos and in different recordings.

[@DihelsonMendonca]

The problem is that piano rolls tend to sound sloppy. This technology doesn´t reproduce exactly what was played. A little variation on the roll speed and we have a completely wrong recording. Scriabin may not have liked this...

[@qzrnuiqntp]

LOL

[@blankname4716]

Should be titled piano rolls play Scriabin playing Scriabin

[@mairaleikarte43]

No. Should be titled Your phone or computer with or without headphones wireless or with a wire.... Playing Scriabin who played Scriabin, who played what divine inspiration brought him, supported by hard studying played by a device Chinese children helped to make thanking Nikola Tesla........... This will not end 💙🎸💤🍀😅I'm just Scriabining.

[@blankname4716]

@@mairaleikarte43 hahaha

[@Santosificationable]

Gone were the days when the virtuoso was a composer and the virtuoso a composer.

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Except for Marc-André Hamelin, for example.

[@AlC92575]

Some people may find it hard to believe but there were some pieces that Scriabin composed that that not even he could play.

[@carolynchang4401]

Hilarious. I don't know if this is true but I have read (am reading his bio now) that he would modify some things for concerts to make playing easier.

[@brucedavies8154]

@@carolynchang4401 He was known for changing entire passages in his pieces, the 3rd sonata being a prime example.

[@brucedavies8154]

alc7898 He was known for not playing certain pieces. For example his 6th sonata due to superstition and op.51 no.2 prélude which he detested. A piece he couldn't physically play was his etude op65 no.1 in 10ths as his hands were too small

[@Συναισθησις]

It's not surprising, he had small hands that could barely reach a 9th. And when you see the monstrous chords in some of his works...

[@Whatismusic123]

​@@brucedavies8154 the 65 1 etude is in major 9ths

[@Kyle_Warweave]

Among other things about 'classical' music, I recently read the following line : "Classical music has been on a steady decline for decades and that decline is only worsening since the pandemic. " I don't know if I can believe this, and one would say that a lockdown actually triggers a revival in listening to (classical) music. Is everyone massively depressed and committing suicide ? Music lends itself ideally to "grounding" unwelcome emotions. Seems to me.

[@Whatismusic123]

Classical music has been on the decline for more than a century, the pandemic did nothing to change the inherent flaws in the education of it.

[@Kyle_Warweave]

So, according to your statistics and my "premise" combined, the whole world has since 100 years been on a trip to suicide even though the population has grown exponentially. Yes, the latter is probably a big contributing factor. As well as the downward-spiraling quality of education. [satire]

[@Whatismusic123]

are you schizo? @@Kyle_Warweave

[@Kyle_Warweave]

@@Whatismusic123 I'm sorry. It sure seems that way... Apparently, a part of what I wrote got "cut off." It was meant as sarcasm while questioning the reason for the decline at the same time. LSD, the hippie culture, and the drive to experiment with strange, new technologies, plus the import of ancient Eastern cultural influences surely played a factor in speeding up the decline. Music teachers in public schools, parents, and social media could have some influence on keeping certain art forms from completely disappearing. Fact is: one cannot force preferences. Luckily I'm aware of the existence of the Akashic Records so I'm sure that Scriabin too will enjoy his share of entities being enchanted by his magical frequencies reverbarating the astral planes. Schizo enough for you ? ¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯

[@Whatismusic123]

@@Kyle_Warweave ok definitely schizo

[@francodegrandis870]

Quando per commemorare il genio di Scriabin il genio di Raxmaninov suono' tutto in maniera completamente diversa da come eseguiva le sue musiche Scriabin suonando tutto in maniera molto piu' classica e a tempo.....il tutto fu preso dai fedelissimi di Scriabin come un (" insulto" e per poco non" menarono" il povero Raxmaninov...la morale? Semplicissima: il genio Raxmaninov da genio quale era aveva capito benissimo che era impossibile suonare come il genio di Scriabin le musiche di Scriabin( irraggiungibile) e suono come poteva suonare il genio di Raxmaninov

[@julienferre7317]

Personne n'a joué, ne joue ,ne jouera de cette manière.

[@sonofphilip8229]

I always doubt the tempos on scroll recordings because it's so easy for someone to screw up. Even a little bit matters a lot, especially with pieces as short as these. It always seems a little unnatural. Gershwin rolls are the same. And Joplin's. The interpretations I don't contest, but the tempos. Wonky to me and could easily be a technological artifact of the medium and it's subsequent restoration.

[@OziCastle]

Not bad for an 155 year old

[@maximiliennoel3447]

It's a piano roll and played on a modern piano

[@HomeCookgabriele]

HE PLAY SOOO FREELY. JUSY WHAT CORTOT SAYS WITH CHPIN TOO...Chopin shluld be played same way

[@cynic150]

Sounds rather quirky. The rubato is extreme. I wonder how accurate this recording is... You cannot deny it is musical playing, but lacks subtlety, especially in P and PP.

[@rudolphtsschesumare39]

Alexander Scriabin plays Scriabin=If my dog wasnt died he would be alive

[@mrocznamucha3532]

wat

[@scriabinismydog2439]

wat

[@kaatjedecorel]

rachmaninov's rag man in oft

[@bokai77]

I am baffled by the composer's choice of tempi and general interpretations of their own work, it's like they don't understand the music they themselves are writing (listen to the Prelude no.2, Op11). I know that he was a special case (very eccentric, shall we say) but I get the same thing listening to Debussy playing La Plus Que Lente, for example.

[@RollaArtis]

Grigoris Leontiades But Scriabin was the composer! It's not that he is playing in an eccentric way, indeed he can play in any way he likes. You should be baffled as to why no one else plays in the same manner.

[@albertomartin4812]

Grigoris Leontiades No, no, no... YOU don't understand what they thought of their music, because we are all conditioned by today's standards.

[@albertomartin4812]

Alberto Martín On the other hand, piano rolls are never precise.

[@RollaArtis]

Alberto Martín I agree we are all conditioned, this is why these piano rolls are sometimes so surprising. However one has to make allowances for inaccuracies in the dynamics (only) of the 'reproducing' system, an aspect of piano rolls which indeed is never precise. But this was for a long time the only way to make a recording and enable continuous playback of piano pieces 5 - 15 minutes long without interruption

[@milton3204]

Grigoris Leontiades What's weirder: playing the same thing the same way over and over again, or playing it differently each time you play it? Chopin, and many others did the same thing too. Treating the score as if its the Bible is a 20th and 21st century phenomena.

[@kevasman9974]

I don't believe these piano rolls are anything like what he (or anyone) really sounded like. The pianist recorded on one piano and adjusted to its peculiarities. The machine plays a different piano - thus the bad balances, spasmodic tempo changes, and impossibly fast tempos at times. Listen to the 4th movement of the 3rd sonata - it is not physically possible to play it that fast and it's incomprehensible at that speed. Scriabin was by all accounts a fine player, but these performances certainly aren't fine. Such a shame. I'd rather have a scratchy old acoustic recording than these any time.

[@TomCL-vb6xc]

These are better than most piano rolls however. The tempo changes, will perhaps down to the roll, were said to be common place in Scriabin’s rather jumpy rubato. As far as I am concerned, these rolls offer the best insight to Scriabin’s playing that can be found anywhere.

[@aldoringo439]

Whoever this is, he clearly doesn't understand scriabin at all! A rubbish interpretation!

[@justintimetoclashandbrawl3348]

LOL! This is Scriabin playing his own piece 😂😂😂😂 he definitely understands himself 😂😂😂

[@Warp75]

LMAO classic

[@Veiosaci]

Um compositor maravilhoso, genial, mas como pianista deixa a desejar na minha opinião.