Alexander Scriabin

Date of Birth: January 6, 1872

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: April 27, 1915

Biography

Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was a Russian composer and pianist, born on January 6, 1872, in Moscow, Russia. He is considered one of the most innovative and controversial of early modern composers. His work initially followed in the tradition of Chopin but later evolved into a highly personal style that incorporated mystical and esoteric elements. Scriabin’s music is known for its unusual harmonies and his innovative use of the whole-tone scale, atonal structures, and complex polyrhythms. Scriabin’s early education was interrupted by illness, but he eventually studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he demonstrated prodigious talent. His early works were highly influenced by Chopin, but as he matured, he developed a unique musical language. A significant part of his later work was influenced by his interest in mysticism, theosophy, and synesthesia—a condition where he associated colors with musical keys. Scriabin’s compositions include piano sonatas, symphonies, and orchestral works. Notable works include his “Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor,” the symphonic poem “Poem of Ecstasy,” and his final, unfinished work, “Mysterium,” which he envisioned as a multimedia event involving music, light, dance, and scent. Scriabin died unexpectedly of septicemia on April 27, 1915, in Moscow, at the age of 43. Despite his relatively short life, he left a lasting impact on the world of classical music, influencing later composers like Sergei Prokofiev and Igor Stravinsky.

5 Interesting Facts about Alexander Scriabin

1. Alexander Scriabin was deeply influenced by theosophy and believed in the potential of music to bring about a mystical transformation of the world.

2. He experienced synesthesia, a condition where he associated specific colors with musical keys.

3. Scriabin was one of the first composers to use atonality, which significantly influenced modern classical music.

4. His unfinished work “Mysterium” was intended to be a week-long, multi-sensory performance that would herald the end of the world and the beginning of a new, more spiritual existence.

5. Scriabin’s “Poem of Ecstasy” and “Prometheus: The Poem of Fire” are notable for their use of a “mystic chord,” a unique harmonic device he invented.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Alexander Scriabin

1. “I am a moment illuminating eternity… I am affirmation… I am ecstasy.”

2. “My 10th Sonata is a sonata of insects. Insects are born from the sun… they are the kisses of the sun.”

3. “Music should not be merely beautiful; it should be significant.”

4. “I want to create a synthesis of the arts, where music, color, and movement are inseparable.”

5. “I have sailed the seas and come to the holy city of Byzantium.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The exact details of Alexander Scriabin’s net worth are not well documented, but he achieved considerable fame and recognition during his lifetime, which allowed him to live comfortably in Moscow.

Children

Alexander Scriabin had seven children from his two marriages. His first wife, Vera Ivanovna Isakovich, gave birth to three children: Rimma (who died young), Elena, and Maria. His second wife, Tatiana Fyodorovna Schlözer, bore him four children: Ariadna, Julian, Marina, and another son who also died young.