Cliburn Masterpiece: Scriabin - Sonata No. 5, op. 53

In this episode of Cliburn Masterpiece we explore a groundbreaking work composed in 1907 by Alexander Scriabin: Sonata No. 5, op. 53.
Host Buddy Bray discusses Scriabin's embrace of mysticism and the unconventional nature of this piece with Sean Chen, 2013 Cliburn third-prize winner, as well as renowned pianist and distinguished professor of piano at The Juilliard School, Jerome Lowenthal. We’ll also hear some special insights from 2017 Cliburn Silver Medalist Kenny Broberg.
See the full schedule of upcoming episodes at Cliburn.org/masterpiece.
If you enjoy watching Cliburn Masterpiece, please consider making a donation to support this programming. cliburn.org/support/
The Cliburn now has text-to-give capabilities!
Donate to the Cliburn by texting CAH2021 to 44-321.

[@connorrichardson368]

When Sean was talking about how the best performance isn't the most note perfect but the one who lets go the most, I instantly thought of Viktoria Postnikova's recording

[@TomCL-vb6xc]

Suprised at how little content there is on TH-cam discussing this masterpiece. I think it is an essential work for any pianist to at least listen to. The music of Scriabin is like a hot air balloon; it continues to float upwards into the stratosphere and it is up to the individual listener to decide when they want to let go. The longer you hold on, the less oxygen the music has (the less traditional harmony) and the more it expands into the universe. Sometimes I enjoy taking flight straight into the sun. Other times I enjoy being closer to the ground and soaking in his Russian melancholy. I wouldn’t say there is any composer remotely like him. This piece in particular is everything the poem says it is; it’s life and light erupting from nothing. It can honestly be interpreted as his single greatest work and - aside from his unfinished Mysterium - the ultimate encapsulation of his worldview and musical ambition. It is a truly monumental work of genius.

[@SCRIABINIST]

Indeed, I really like this Sonata because it has a perfect balance between his early romanticism and later mysticism.

[@ICanPickLocks]

@@SCRIABINIST 👀👀

[@erikfreitas7093]

A glorious supernova of a piece 🎹🤩

[@HenryBee]

Loved the interviews and "behind the music" analysis!

[@user-hp4xt3vm7p]

Thanks for sharing, lovely interviews with all the fine people.

[@PianoGuy954]

What a great analysis and conversation. It's really helping me put words and structure on top on my current learning of this piece which is soooo hard but also so satisfying to learn. Also all this part around 29:40, restating the "yearning" theme is such a nice example of early-ish attempt at the "mystic chord" when you break it down: stacked fourths, sometimes altered. Analyzing that it comes from this theme which is based on dominant chords, it gives hints on how the mystic chord from prometheus takes roots also in this very dominant function with added flavors of altered intervals.

[@chrisknopp1864]

Really enjoying this series!

[@mumps59]

Thank you...what a great de-Monday-ifier!

[@keithwms]

A very enjoyable episode; thank you.
However, I don't understand why the commentators imply that the piece is remarkable due to lack of resolutions. I hear *several* resolutions... just not the conventional, dissonant-to-consonant resolutions that one might expect. What I notice in this piece are -young readers, look away!- orgiastic/ecstatic/uncontrolled/reflexive moments followed by very finely expressed, sustained pleasure. We hear that pattern right up front, at the outset, and then it recurs multiple times thereafter. Surely this sort of expression is what Scriabin was on about, in this work; surely it's why he attached his poem. Perhaps he was saying that effective resolutions don't have to be academic and chaste.

[@Ben-ps4mk]

22:26

[@thedankest1974]

This is great!

[@christopherczajasager9030]

A world of fantasy existed always in great composers since the Renaissance!!! su

[@spacevspitch4028]

This piece takes Schenker for a ride. It's just V all the way through with no resolution.

[@MaScalo4508]

What is the music that plays at the beginning of the video?

[@hellothere9327]

Gaspard de la nuit, Ondine, Ravel

[@MaScalo4508]

@@hellothere9327 thank you!!

[@tarikeld11]

Which piece is the intro?

[@edwardcallahanpiano]

Ravel Ondine. My favorite piece to play!

[@tarikeld11]

@@edwardcallahanpiano Thank you so much :) This section is breathtaking!

[@vine2197]

Ondine

[@giovannifosco7272]

Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit by Ravel

[@finnstyles]

22:25