The Notebooks of Alexander Skryabin

Now an English-speaking scholar or performer can learn about the ways in which Scriabin was understood one hundred years ago in Russia and is still sometimes understood today. This makes for a fascinating network-like book whose structure invites multiple readings. -- Nikita Braguinski, Notes Nicholls and Pushkin have bested the beast; their edition is excellent [...] -- Music and Letters A useful and appealing introduction to Skriabin, The Notebooks promise to become an indispensable companion for scholars, students, pianists, and music lovers alike. -- Polina Dimova, University of Denver, Slavic Review ...the Gershenzon collection of Scriabin's writings is an important testament to the Orphic moment. Nicholls and Pushkin's translation will finally allow Anglophone readers the opportunity to pierce the veil of secondary commentary on Scriabin woven for over a century. -- Anna Gawboy, Music Theory Spectrum Of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience (from scholars of Russian history and culture to musicologists), this invaluable publication provides insight into ideas that both shaped Skriabin's personal creative world and resonated with many of his contemporaries. -- Rebecca Mitchell, The Slavonic and East European Review For those admirers of the composer unable to access or unable to read Gershenzon's publication, this careful translation will be welcome [...] a fine translation. -- David Haas, The Russian Review Truly an essential addition to Scriabin literature... Lucidly translated and richly annotated -- BBC Music Magazine Of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience (from scholars of Russian history and culture to musicologists), this invaluable publication provides insight into ideas that both shaped Skriabin's personal creative world and resonated with many of his contemporaries...It is hoped that this publication will give impetus to future English-language translations of key Skriabin texts -- Rebecca Mitchell, Middlebury College, Slavonic and East European Review This lucid translation helps piano lovers to understand the literary expression of a major keyboard composer. -- International Piano Magazine This slim yet scholarly volume is truly an essential addition to Scriabin literature. The composer's notebooks -- covering virtually all his major works -- are lucidly translated and richly annotated by pianist and scholar Simon Nicholls, who also includes a pithily informative biography, plenty of photographs, and a detailed account of the intellectual ferment from which Scriabin drew his ideas: a heady mix of Symbolism, philosophy, new theories on psychology, and the then influential teachings of Theosophy ... Nicholls shows how Scriabin's one time acolyte and first biographer, Leonid Sabaneyev, did much to destroy the composer's posthumous credibility by presenting him through the distorting lens of Cesare Lombroso's now discredited theory that genius was akin to mental disease. -- Daniel JaffA (c), BBC Music Magazine This book provides a multifaceted insight into Scriabin's developing thought process, the context of his work, and his thoughts about philosophy and art. -- CHOICE A splendidly researched volume, and an endlessly fascinating piece of scholarship. I learned a great deal from it, and it will prove essential to anyone wishing to probe deeper into Skryabin's world. The book is an immensely valuable addition to our understanding of every aspect of this most enigmatic of Russian composers. -Marc Andre Hamelin, pianist The Notebooks of Alexander Skryabin brings to life the previously unpublished confessions from the composer's secret journals in fresh, modern translations. Simon Nicholls lends historical context and insightful perspective to Skryabin's profound and provocative theories. Now that Skryabin's philosophical thinking has earned a critical respect it deserves, this book promises to become an essential resource for students and scholars. -Lincoln Ballard, Instructor of Music at National University, and co-author of The Alexander Scriabin Companion