Description

Scriabin's early Etudes, Op. 8, are at the core of the virtuoso piano repertoire, their methodical and pedagogical intent clearly evident. However, they are also 12 character pieces that reveal Scriabin's full creative spectrum, from the dreamy and poetic to the powerful and passionate. Unfortunately, the composer did not make things easy for his publisher, Belaieff, as the long-promised Etudes (for which Scriabin had received an advance) were repeatedly delayed due to his continual revisions. As Scriabin wrote, "You are annoyed with me - completely justifiably, although I deserve some leniency as I am, in the truest sense of the word, working on them the whole day through." Despite the challenges, Scriabin's efforts were worthwhile. For Henle's Urtext edition, Scriabin scholar Valentina Rubcova drew upon the composer's own second revised version of the first printing, making detailed comparisons with the surviving autograph. World-renowned pianist Boris Giltburg provided the fingering.

Songs / Content

• Allegro C sharp major op. 8,1
• A capriccio, con forza f sharp minor op. 8,2
• Tempestoso b minor op. 8,3
• Piacevole B major op. 8,4
• Brioso E major op. 8,5
• Con grazia A major op. 8,6
• Presto tenebroso, agitato b flat minor op. 8,7
• Lento (Tempo rubato) A flat major op. 8,8
• Alla ballata g sharp minor op. 8,9
• Allegro D flat major op. 8,10
• Andante cantabile b flat minor op. 8,11
• Patetico d sharp minor op. 8,12
• Appendix: 2. version from no. XII