Scriabin - 5 Preludes Op. 16 (Igor Zhukov)

Alexander Scriabin - 5 Preludes Op. 16
Performed by Igor Zhukov: • Scriabin - 5 Preludes ...
Igor Mikhaylovich Zhukov (31 August 1936 - 26 January 2018) was a Russian pianist, conductor and sound engineer. He was born in Nizhny Novgorod in 1936 but his family moved to Moscow in the following year. Four years later, they were evacuated to Vyatka (then known as Kirov) as a result of the Second World War. After the war, they returned to Moscow, where Zhukov studied in the Conservatory in 1955, studying first with Emil Gilels and then, in 1955, with Heinrich Neuhaus. He graduated in 1960, having won second prize in the Long-Thibaud Piano Competition in Paris.
Apart from a career as a pianist, Zhukov also conducted his own ensemble, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra until his retirement from conducting in 1994, and was the pianist of the long-running Zhukov Piano Trio which was founded in 1963 and continued performing until 1980. (The other members were the violinist Grigory Feighin and cellist Valentin Feighin.) The trio was noted for its "Historic Concerts" which featured repertoire spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries.
Zhukov made recordings on the Melodiya/CBS label, among others (e.g. the complete Scriabin sonatas). Zhukov also had a passionate interest in recording, and said of himself "I'm the best pianist among recording engineers, and the best recording engineer among pianists."
(Wikipedia)
Please take note that I do not own the rights to the audio or the sheet music used in this video. The video is for non-comercial use.

[@thiagofloyd]

The first prelude is so comfy and cozy, it feels like a warm hug when you're hopeless.

[@DeflatingAtheism]

Those are all the associations I make with the key of B Major!

[@federico6485]

Scriabin resembles sometimes Debussy, sometimes Ravel, sometimes Rachmaninoff, as well as Chopin, but there's something universal of Scriabin's own.

[@6558369]

Thanks for giving Scriabin a credit!

[@sian40]

And ravel!

[@나는누구지-j5b]

Scriabin and Rachmaninoff studied in the same musical academy Rachmaninoff graduated 1st and Scriabin was 2nd best in piano sector As they were close friend, they must have interacted with music

[@alexlee1398]

Shut up

[@federico6485]

@@나는누구지-j5b I'm not sure they were close friends, they were more like rival I think. Scriabin might have wanted to win him.

[@lucasgust7720]

What a genius Scriabin was...

[@charlottewhyte9804]

not really any more than any other 1900 composer

[@ilikeplayingffftonecluster851]

@@charlottewhyte9804 Except most 1900 composers didn’t evolve to create their own unique harmonic language. There was nothing like late Scriabin at the time.

[@Whatismusic123]

@@charlottewhyte9804 scriabin and rachmaninoff are the only competent 1900' composers. What makes them genious, is not their uniqueness. It is their ability to have a grip on form and direction in their music that far outweights any so called "musician" since.

[@nss4472]

​@@charlottewhyte9804"any other" - f. ex., which one(s)? To name ANY?😊

[@HelloSpyMyLie]

@@charlottewhyte9804worthless troglodyte

[@aldoringo439]

when you listen to Scriabin, you enter a world of indulgence and endless, timeless beauty, but one that is not superficial or fabricated like many are.

[@aldoringo439]

No.1 filled with such longing and tender emotion that you can't fully internalise it. Music like this takes you to another world; you forget where you are, what you're doing, what time it is...

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

Can agree so much with your words

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

It makes me feel like floating above mountains nearly instantly after first few notes of melody Maybe it isn't the most famous Scriabin's piece but my heart is totally broken now with that serene beauty

[@PrestissimoMasterStation]

In Pokemon X and Y

[@zsoltbalint499]

@@alexanderbayramov2626 it's actually crazy that I think of a bird flying over mountains and infinitely distant horizons. Music can create visions. That's really incredible I think

[@ollir9352]

@@zsoltbalint499 I agree. I absolutely love how music can create visions, it's what I strive to evoke in my music.

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

6:32 epic dramatic pause

[@gregoryprusak8378]

Prelude #1 always knocks me out....that diminuendo cascading softly into C major and yet resolves back to B major is just genius.

[@crazyorganist1609]

Scriabin was a genius

[@RamiroBrandan]

napolitan chord, or sub minor relationship

[@malcolmexton4299]

Scriabin was interested in Nietzsche and composed #1 in Jan 1894. Richard Strauss composed Also sprach Zarathustra in 1896. Both use the B/C sequence at the end and both referenced Nietzsche. Scriabin resolved to B whereas Strauss resolved to C (representing science). Where the original idea for use of B/C came from, I have not yet determined.

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

@@malcolmexton4299 wow, super interesting! Didn't know that Nietzsche inspired other famous composers

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

That prelude surely knocked me out from the first seconds, transcedent beauty

[@VictorAvilaPiano]

Zhukov is amazing. Always detailed and cristal clear. You hear every single note with a great voicing and polyphony management.

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

it's so freaking hard to play like that, even when it's 'just' a slow piece like the first prelude

[@b1i2l336]

Oh, this is so beautiful! Nobody plays Scriabin like Zhukov!

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Somptueux et pleins d'une délicatesse qui n'appartient qu'à Scriabin...tout est si bien exprimé qu'on en sort, comme l'on sort d'un rêve. Merci Igor vous étiez un artiste véritable. ❤

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

First prelude is one of those Scriabin's pieces which made me fall in love with his music about a year ago, endlessly beautiful and serene

[@bethanywakim6175]

I love the technique he uses here and there of letting go of everything except one note - a beautiful stillness.

[@classicalmusiclover4029]

Zhukov plays wonderfully

[@aldoringo439]

No.1 sounds to me like a fairytale from a story book put into music. So beautiful and expressive.

[@quentinholmes4333]

agreed

[@svits.9138]

Prelude No. 1 in B Major (0:08) Prelude No. 2 in G-sharp Minor (2:59) Prelude No. 3 in G-flat Major (4:27) Prelude No. 4 in E flat Minor (7:03) Prelude No. 5 in F-sharp Major (8:16)

[@DihelsonMendonca]

Thank you !

[@miguelcaballero5195]

Very kind of you, thanks 😊

[@robertogonzalez1494]

You are the hero we don't deserve. Thank you so very much!

[@aldoringo439]

The best thing about scriabin is that even if you don't like one of his pieces you still gain enjoyment and satisfaction from it.

[@davidrhodes7975]

I've been rabbiting about this genius for too long. Finally got through to my dear neighbour just before he passed away, I'd like to think he remembered those gorgeous, simple notes and their loving relationship with their neighbouring notes in his final hours. Sublime pieces.

[@aldoringo439]

No.1 is a subtle masterpiece

[@terryss95]

Thank you very much, i've never heard the Op.16 before and this is such a beautiful rendition.

[@quentinholmes4333]

scriabin had a very rare natural talent. his early work is as genius as his late

[@fulviopolce9785]

Zhukov incarna la grande esperienza,preparazione ed espressione del pianismo Russo.Bravissimo!!

[@Prometeur]

These are lovely!

[@ajtheown]

I love the 3rd prelude here! Thanks for sharing :)

[@gregoryprusak8378]

Yes, amazing how it echoes Bach and yet it is completely Scriabin's

[@kvn00000]

This is my favorite recording of these preludes

[@aldoringo439]

Scriabin was such a poetic, structural and stylistically accomplished composer that it feels like you could just use any of his preludes in a modern day film soundtrack and it would work. I almost see images with the emotion and imagination his music evokes. Everything seems to come in full circle, and his incredible aural imagination, reminiscent of other greats such as chopin and mozart, meant he could form complex musical conversation and development in his mind, then put it in to notes. The result is breathtaking.

[@minister_of_films2635]

Wow you seem to really like this set of preludes

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

The way his early preludes strike is quite similar to what you describe, they convey emotions in such pure and sincere way, I myself can't find this in Chopin's music (though I absolutely love some of his pieces ofc), but it's so easy to listen all of Scriabin's early pieces in one big playlist, they just do the thing for me What do you think about Chopin's and Rachmaninoff's music btw? And also Scriabin's late period?

[@Poeme340]

He could weave a tragic novel out of these miniatures-I never cease to be deeply touched by them yet they never seem saccharine…just profound.

[@joshscores3360]

The Five Preludes, Op. 16 (1894-1895) are among those works from the early stages of Scriabin's career that clearly demonstrate a debt to the music of Chopin and Liszt. Both Chopin and Liszt exerted a palpable influence over the young composer up to about 1900, by which time he had evolved a distinctive musical voice into which he was to soon incorporate mysticism and more radical compositional methods. The first of the Five Preludes, marked Andante, presents a beautiful theme in the post-Romantic vein without divulging any obvious influences. There are, probably more by coincidence than by imitation, hints of Rachmaninov in the prelude's lushness and in the character of its flow. The second prelude, marked Allegro, begins with a sort of stutter-step motive that the composer cleverly converts into a theme of nervous beauty and great passion. The third prelude, marked Andante cantabile, has a Lisztian religiosity in its solemn manner, while the fourth, marked Lento, transforms the mood of the third into a more earth-bound ponderousness. The half-minute-long fifth prelude, marked Allegretto, dispels the solemnity, bringing the set to a close with a fleeting brightness. (AllMusic)

[@esdjesd8589]

Hints of Rachmaninoff, yes! I see an obvious similarity between Scriabin’s Op. 33 No. 1 (still predominantly post-romantic) and Rachmaninoff’s Op. 23 No. 4, although with Scriabin the melody is much more personal and reveals significantly less towering joy than in the case of S. V. Rachmaninoff

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

The second sounds quite like Brahms and Tchaikovsky though.

[@fabiancancellara1]

My favorite composer

[@luisabaillod2068]

Avec Scriabin, je découvre sans cesse de nouveaux territoires inexplorés

[@aldoringo439]

You can just imagine scriabin sitting there at his grand piano in a cosy, candlit room on a cold Russian winter night, composing these preludes through hours of extensive Improvisation.

[@lambo99khoker56]

Having met his actual house in Arbat District in person I can say it’s really cozy! He had 2 grand pianos and it’s such a good image to picture him in there composing.

[@abyssofmymind]

There are other seasons in Russia, not only winter

[@yushi9731]

эта музыка забрала моё сердце

[@rodnaskel2123]

В прямом смысле влюбился в музыку этого композитора после того как услышал первую прелюдию отсюда, один из любимых композиторов помимо Баха

[@OdinLimaye]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[@deolindapinhogarciabertolo707]

Amo Scriabin!!!Lindo demais!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️

[@musicalmaffeffe646]

This is literally not like Chopin at all. How did he create all those mysterious and soothing harmonies in the beginning!?

[@SCRIABINIST]

Le premier prélude est tout à fait dans la même "mood" que la Deuxième Sonate et le Prélude de l'Op.11 n°11. Caressante et douce, la pièce pensive et lumineuse se termine par une modulation mystérieuse. La seconde est des battements d'ailes et de papillons, il y a un mouvement sombre de la manière la plus sombre. La lutte héroïque se récapitule en accords impériaux et déclamatoires. Le troisième prélude est une déambulation religieuse, sa nature chorale donne une ambiance d'improvisation. Bien que l'ambiance soit simple et statique, les septièmes mineures vers la fin donnent une évocation typique de Scriabine précoce. Le quatrième Prélude est de loin la composition la plus concise de Scriabine. Ses deux lignes de musique expriment tout un monde de deuil solennel et sincère qui s'évanouit dans l'abîme du néant. C'est simple, mais en une minute tout a été dit. Le cinquième Prélude est une préfiguration de l'envolée sensuelle de Scriabine. Il n'y a pas de lutte ici, seulement des battements et des flottements caressants. C'est peut-être l'œuvre la plus originale et la plus caractéristique de cet opus de Scriabine, ainsi que la plus difficile en difficulté.

[@Yannoux3000]

On dirait du chat gpt... On peut faire mieux comme analyse musicologique

[@sparko7902]

@@Yannoux3000chatgpt 2 years ago?

[@sparko7902]

@@Yannoux3000 chat gpt 2 years ago?

[@segalanicolas5608]

Scriabinist en français Scriabiniste en français

[@SCRIABINIST]

@@segalanicolas5608 bro this was 2 years ago my French is dogwater now

[@beucorona2170]

This is beautiful and his technique, it´s marvelous.

[@arturlindstrom653]

Wow he’s able to produce such a full and rich sound

[@VassilikiKravari]

Ils sont magnifiques, tous les cinq. ❤

[@paolofranceschi6874]

bravooooooooooooooo!

[@williamnelson792]

5 is beautiful.

[@williamnelson792]

seriously beautiful

[@MarianoStatelloPiano]

Que belleza🎵🎶

[@federico6485]

OMG no.4 is so short sad... it's like a etherial version of Chopin's no.4.

[@barys_zamechtu]

I once heard it, but didn't know it was it, and I was looking for it for like 9 years... What a masterpiece

[@pablos5463]

la mejor interpretacion del op 2 sin duda alguna

[@jjl8511]

The G flat at 6:33 is possibly the most beautiful note out of the 5 preludes.

[@und3rh34v3n]

This music have some history

[@d.s.2380]

As the turntable plays a semitone higher, the complete Scriabin's mystic (in original tonalities) is destroyed, what a CRYme!

[@ijbarosursohkiak6231]

Excellent stuff

[@waldemarhaupt9636]

pretty 😊

[@paolofranceschi6874]

il primo fa piangere.

[@sirwan505]

Argus Filch be a bussin' pianist.

[@Joseguzman8v]

Encuentro un gran aire a Debussy y me encanta

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

0:27, 1:25, 1:38, 1:42 Does Zhukov use another edition? Because these moments in score are different

[@Ryzalis]

I haven't seen an edition with (or heard anyone else play) the way Zhukov does it, so it's possibly a change Zhukov made himself. I don't know if it's just because I heard this interpretation first, but I actually much prefer it this way.

[@newaccounter]

He also doesn’t really play the eighth note portions of the melody as 3 against 2 but extends the first note so that it goes along with the 1st and 3rd beat of the triplet. Scriabin explicitly does that for the repeat, but Zhukov also does it for the beginning. I actually kinda like it that way

[@HansWurst-xj7xh]

Really nice recording! Can anyone tell me when it was released and how the CD/album is called?

[@Fildoggy]

love the preludes, why is it so staticky? the dude was a sound engineer

[@esdjesd8589]

fildog Recorded in 1980 my friend, in 1980. Probably digitised from a vinyl, hence the static. It wasn’t uncommon for lots and lots of soviet recordings to be made on vinyl well into the 80s. Every “respectable” home had a vinyl record player.

[@kenjitodaguiar1134]

A death grips album cover as a pfp and you listen to Scriabin as well? A man of culture.

[@aldoringo439]

@@esdjesd8589 wow you really know your history, I respect that. Did u live in soviet russia or something?

[@esdjesd8589]

@@aldoringo439 I did not personally, but my relatives did. I saw a lot of Soviet materials when I was young.

[@Boldstrummer]

7:03 #4

[@christophegeoffroy4281]

Bar 4 of the first prelude, there's a little mistake on the left hand. Instead of the second G sharp he plays E. Error on score or pianist? Maybe a lucky mistake because of the melody of the right hand finishes on G sharp also.

[@newaccounter]

Might’ve been intentional to avoid the jittery sound that comes with the overlapping notes. I actually liked it so much that I always play the prelude with the E

[@Schubertd960]

The first prelude's melody is faintly reminiscent of Schumann's fantasy in c...

[@rodnaskel2123]

You mean the way melody descends at the beginning is similar to Schumann's first theme from his fantasy? Btw absolutely love both these pieces

[@handledav]

5

[@aldoringo439]

No.1 is so similar to chopin nocturne in fsharp minor if you think about it...

[@alexanderbayramov2626]

Interesting comparison, after your comment I can see how these melodies are similar in some way, though the vibe and the atmosphere are totally different

[@mysterium364]

Why does the second one sound baroque-inspired? Don't know much about baroque music, but I am sure there is a type that it reminds me of.

[@randykern1842]

As far as the Russians go, Scriabin is definitely my fave. Coming from a pianist 😊😊

[@pablobear4241]

1:08 remind me of fantasie

[@aldoringo439]

no.2 is beautiful, but there is a tragedy behind it. Its reminds me of the holocaust, and of ww2 in general, for some reason. The music is so expressive and well crafted that I get images of Schindlers list in my mind when I hear it, don't ask me why.

[@Whatismusic123]

Dumbest comment I've ever read.

[@terrorwavegabber]

>Its reminds me of the holocaust wow you're messed in the head with this fairy tales

[@Наталья-ж7ъ9й]

Скрябин сложен для моего восприятия . Нравятся , как и многим , его этюд -- соч 2 номер 1 и этюд ( к сожалению заезжанный ! --) соч 12 номер 8 . А остальное -- пока мне не доступно .

[@alexanderfelix2597]

Tell me if I'm wrong but doesnt the repeating rhythm from measure 1 not fit in 3/4? It looks like "1 2+3+ e" but its played differently. Am I tripping really hard or ?

[@svits.9138]

The tuplets are not notated - most likely to make the score cleaner. The notes in the first measure are actually triplets :).

[@alexanderfelix2597]

@@svits.9138 Thank you! I've been playing them as sixteenths, I'm glad you cleared that up for me. Much appreciation :)

[@Quim1441]

The recording is out of tune, right?

[@aldoringo439]

Some of these sound quite like modern piano music, like film music and stuff, such as the the soundtrack to the duchess. It's strange.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Ah yes. But preludes to what, exactly?

[@Dichweed]

No rhythm.

[@jemtheweeknd97]

Не пиши бред!

[@aldoringo439]

No.2 very similar to that well known rachmaninoff etude tableau in eb minor or some shit