“Mazurka Dance” by Steven Spurrier (1932)

“Mazurka Dance” by Steven Spurrier (1932)

Ten dances in this first Mazurkas collection :

No.1 - Tempo giusto (B Minor) No.2 - Allegretto non tanto (F♯ minor) No.3 - Allegretto (G Minor) No.4 - (E major) No.5 - Doloroso (D♯ minor) No.6 - Scherzando (C♯ minor) No.7 - Con passione (E Minor) No.8 - Con moto (B♭ minor) No.9 - (G♯ minor) No.10 - (E♭ minor)

The first work and collection of pieces of such scale. It showcases romantic sounds blended with Slavic textures, making it perhaps Scriabin’s most distinctly “national” piece. The musical ideas and style is quite diversified despite the work being composed at the age of 18.

• No.5 stands out through its chromaticism and lyrical polyphony, marking one of the most personal statements in Scriabin’s early output.
• No.9 introduces a very important motif in Scriabin’s oeuvre, a jump of fourth followed by chromatic descending repeated note. This particular motif (the fanfare motif) constitutes the motivic base of others major works (Finale of Sonata No.3 and Sonata No.4).
• No.10 is the longest and most developed piece of the suite. It acts as a mix of all the previous ideas to conclude the Suite, in the same manner as Ravel will later organise his Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (1911). The climax, full of great energy, **already foreshadows pieces of extreme intensity like the Sonata No.1 Op.6 and Fantaisie Op.28.

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{i-tabler:brand-youtube} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyQn-7k32j4&list=PL1XcDKyfQHySX0UeKoU_Hb-OEyWnpCQ5g&pp=gAQB

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{i-tabler:brand-spotify} https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/track/1WoTH7hPxGSvUOXZQA75NT?si=9487252ee8884ac2

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