Symphony No. 3 (Scriabin)

The Symphony No. 3 in C minor of the Russian composer Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin ( 1872-1915 ) is also called " Le divin poème ". The three-movement work was written from 1902 to 1904 and has the opus number 43

Genesis and first performance

Alexander Scriabin's Symphony No. 3 was started in 1902 in Moscow and completed in 1904 in Switzerland. Scriabin developed, influenced, among other things, the philosophical thought of Friedrich Nietzsche, at this time the idea of the creative mind is - godlike - qualified to redeem the world to a higher being. From these ideas out of the nickname of the symphony is " Divin poème " ( divine poem, partly also in the spelling of " Poème Divin ") and a program for the symphony to understand that comes from his second wife Tatjana de Schloezer, authorized by Scriabin, however, " divin the first sentence of the Poème, ' Luttes ', depicts the struggle between the enslaved by a personified deity people and the free human wearing the divinity in yourself. This remains victorious, but his will is still too weak to proclaim one's own divinity. He plunges into the delights of the sensual world. This is the content of the second set ' Voluptés '. Since it arises from the depths of his being exalted power, which helps him to overcome his weakness, and in the last sentence ' Jeu divin ', the General of his shackles unmarried spirit of joy of free existence back. "

The premiere of the Symphony No. 3 on May 29, 1905 in Paris under the direction of Arthur Nikisch. The work was split recording, the reviewer Amadée Boutarel Le Ménestrel saw " a complete mismatch between the philosophical intentions of the author and the statement of work, which, despite a certain mastery of the invoice either by grandeur of musical thought still shines through a sincere and haunting feeling ". The Musical Courier, however, was: " Scriabin [ ... ] has bold, clear and sonorous orchestral phrases, is capable, youthful and full of enthusiasm, his music is interesting and original through and through. " Composer Scriabin Alexander Glazunov colleague valued highly the work.

Instrumentation and Duration

The score includes the following cast with extended blower apparatus ago: Piccolo, 3 flutes, 3 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 8 horns, 5 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 2 harps, tam-tam, glockenspiel and strings.

The performance lasts about 45 to 50 minutes.

Characterization and sequence of movements

Scriabin's 3rd Symphony is in three movements, the sets attacca merge. Thus, it is formally in the transition between his first two symphonies (6 or 5 sets ) and still following, nurmehr -movement symphonic poems (Le Poème de l' Extase, Promethée. Le Poème du feu ).

I. Lento. Divin, grandiose - Luttes. Allegro mysterieux tragique,

The sentence follows an extended sonata form and has two passages in which the subjects under the heading " Luttes " ( "Fight " ) are contrasted. The introduction opens with a massive - heroic motif, followed by a dissonant chord with bugle and final triads. This " steering group " runs like a motto not only through the first set, but appear modified in the 2nd set and decides at the end of the whole symphony.

II Voluptés. Lento sublime,

A appearing already in the bushings of the 1st movement motif dominates the second, in ternary form ( ABA) held record that a " Tristan " - like atmosphere including bird calls similar to the 3rd movement of the 2nd Symphony evokes in lyrical chromatic ductus ( " Voluptés " = " pleasures ").

III. Jeu Divin. Allegro, avec une joie eclatante

In turn, the last sentence ( " Jeu Divin " = "Divine Game") follows the sonata form. Already his main idea is derived from the motto of the 1st movement. At the end of the sentence that seem the apotheosis of increased main theme of the second as well as the central theme of the 1st movement.