This article is about Stravinsky's early composition for solo piano. For Stravinsky's early composition for orchestra, see Scherzo fantastique. For Stravinsky's composition for jazz band, see Scherzo à la russe (Stravinsky).
Scherzo, sometimes also referred to as Scherzo in G minor, is one of Igor Stravinsky's earliest works for piano. It was composed in 1902.[1]
In 1902, when Stravinsky composed the piece, he was studying law at St. Petersburg University.[2][3] He met Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's son Vladimir there. At this time, Stravinsky's ambition was to become a composer, since his father, Fyodor Stravinsky, was also a successful bass opera singer, but studied law out of being pressured into it by his family. However, he started coming to Nikolai's house in order to learn composition and orchestration. Very few juvenalia works from this period still remain, but some of them, presumably the ones he kept in his portfolio, survived. This was the case for his Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor and, also, this scherzo. After composing just a handful of works in these years, Stravinsky would not produce anything significant, but continued to attend private classes with Rimsky-Korsakov until the latter's death in 1908.[2][3]
Stravinsky never mentioned the Scherzo specifically in any of his autobiographical writings.[4] However, he made references to his early piano works in his conversations with Robert Craft. In Expositions and Developments, he described them simply as "andantes, melodies, and so forth".[5] In Dialogues, Stravinsky noted that Rimsky-Korsakov's biographer had mentioned a 1903 concert of his pieces, but he stated "I have no recollection of these bagatelles".[6] With the fall of the Russian Empire most of these early works were presumed to be lost or kept hidden somewhere. Stravinsky himself went to Russia many years later, but nobody seemed to know that the manuscripts of most of his early works were in the safekeeping of several public libraries in the Soviet Union. The manuscript score for the Scherzo was held in the Leningrad State Library in the archives of the pianist Nicholas Richter (1879–1944). Richter was an old acquaintance of Stravinsky and the dedicatee of the Scherzo. The first known publication of the score was a facsimile of the holograph which appeared in Valery Smirnov's 1970 book Tvorcheskoye formirovaniye I. F. Stravinskovo (The Formative years of I. F. Stravinsky).[4] A facsimile version of the piece was also published by Faber Music in 1972, just a year after Stravinsky's death.[1]
The Scherzo did not receive any formal premiere. According to musicologist Charles M. Joseph, there has been speculation that it may have been performed privately for Rimsky-Korsakov in the summer of 1902 when Stravinsky was hoping to be accepted as his pupil. There is no evidence that Richter ever publicly performed the work, although he is known to have premiered the Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, another of Stravinsky's pieces which were dedicated to him.[4]
Structureedit
This scherzo is scored for solo piano and has a duration of only two minutes. As is customary, the scherzo has an ABA structure and is in 3 4. The scherzo part itself starts in G minor, initially marked Allegro by Stravinsky, but later changed to Vivo, probably by Richter himself.[4] The trio is marked Moderato and modulates to G major. During the recapitulation, the piece modulates again to G minor. It ends, after presenting the theme once more, with a short coda.[7]
Recordingsedit
Since the Scherzo's rediscovery, it has appeared on several recordings including:
Stravinsky: Piano Music. Victor Sangiorgio, pianist (first released by Collins Classics in 1993; re-released by Naxos Records in 2007)[3]
^ abTaruskin, Richard. (2016). Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions, Vol. 1, p. 100. University of California Press. ISBN0520293487
^ abSadie, Stanley and Tyrrell, John (eds.) (2003). The New Grove Stravinsky, p. 3. Oxford University Press. ISBN0199729433
^ abcTruslove, David (2008). Liner notes: Stravinsky: Piano Music. Naxos Records
^ abcdJoseph, Charles M. (January 1981). "Stravinsky's Piano Scherzo (1902) in Perspective: A New Starting Point", pp. 83–84. The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 67, No. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2018 (subscription required).
^Stravinsky, Igor and Craft, Robert (1981). Expositions and Developments, pp. 44–45. University of California Press. ISBN0520044037 (reprint of the 1959 edition)
^Stravinsky, Igor and Craft, Robert (1982). Dialogues, p. 133. University of California Press. ISBN0520046501 (reprint of the 1961 edition)
^Stravinsky, Igor (1973). Scherzo (1902), for piano (edited by Eric Walter White). Canada: Faber Music Limited.
^Gramophone (9 January 2013). "Review: Stravinsky Works for Solo Piano-Martin Jones". Retrieved 22 February 2018.
Further readingedit
Griffiths, Graham (2013). Stravinsky's Piano: Genesis of a Musical Language, pp. 29–32. Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521191785 (detailed analysis of the Scherzo score and its musical influences)
scherzo, stravinsky, this, article, about, stravinsky, early, composition, solo, piano, stravinsky, early, composition, orchestra, scherzo, fantastique, stravinsky, composition, jazz, band, scherzo, russe, stravinsky, scherzo, sometimes, also, referred, scherz. This article is about Stravinsky s early composition for solo piano For Stravinsky s early composition for orchestra see Scherzo fantastique For Stravinsky s composition for jazz band see Scherzo a la russe Stravinsky Scherzo sometimes also referred to as Scherzo in G minor is one of Igor Stravinsky s earliest works for piano It was composed in 1902 1 ScherzoPiano music by Igor StravinskyThe composer c 1905KeyG minorComposed1902 1902 Published1970 1970 ScoringPiano Contents 1 Composition 2 Structure 3 Recordings 4 References 5 Further readingComposition editIn 1902 when Stravinsky composed the piece he was studying law at St Petersburg University 2 3 He met Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov s son Vladimir there At this time Stravinsky s ambition was to become a composer since his father Fyodor Stravinsky was also a successful bass opera singer but studied law out of being pressured into it by his family However he started coming to Nikolai s house in order to learn composition and orchestration Very few juvenalia works from this period still remain but some of them presumably the ones he kept in his portfolio survived This was the case for his Piano Sonata in F sharp minor and also this scherzo After composing just a handful of works in these years Stravinsky would not produce anything significant but continued to attend private classes with Rimsky Korsakov until the latter s death in 1908 2 3 Stravinsky never mentioned the Scherzo specifically in any of his autobiographical writings 4 However he made references to his early piano works in his conversations with Robert Craft In Expositions and Developments he described them simply as andantes melodies and so forth 5 In Dialogues Stravinsky noted that Rimsky Korsakov s biographer had mentioned a 1903 concert of his pieces but he stated I have no recollection of these bagatelles 6 With the fall of the Russian Empire most of these early works were presumed to be lost or kept hidden somewhere Stravinsky himself went to Russia many years later but nobody seemed to know that the manuscripts of most of his early works were in the safekeeping of several public libraries in the Soviet Union The manuscript score for the Scherzo was held in the Leningrad State Library in the archives of the pianist Nicholas Richter 1879 1944 Richter was an old acquaintance of Stravinsky and the dedicatee of the Scherzo The first known publication of the score was a facsimile of the holograph which appeared in Valery Smirnov s 1970 book Tvorcheskoye formirovaniye I F Stravinskovo The Formative years of I F Stravinsky 4 A facsimile version of the piece was also published by Faber Music in 1972 just a year after Stravinsky s death 1 The Scherzo did not receive any formal premiere According to musicologist Charles M Joseph there has been speculation that it may have been performed privately for Rimsky Korsakov in the summer of 1902 when Stravinsky was hoping to be accepted as his pupil There is no evidence that Richter ever publicly performed the work although he is known to have premiered the Piano Sonata in F sharp minor another of Stravinsky s pieces which were dedicated to him 4 Structure editThis scherzo is scored for solo piano and has a duration of only two minutes As is customary the scherzo has an ABA structure and is in 34 The scherzo part itself starts in G minor initially marked Allegro by Stravinsky but later changed to Vivo probably by Richter himself 4 The trio is marked Moderato and modulates to G major During the recapitulation the piece modulates again to G minor It ends after presenting the theme once more with a short coda 7 Recordings editSince the Scherzo s rediscovery it has appeared on several recordings including Stravinsky Piano Music Victor Sangiorgio pianist first released by Collins Classics in 1993 re released by Naxos Records in 2007 3 Stravinsky Works for Solo Piano Martin Jones pianist released on Nimbus Records in 1997 8 References edit a b Taruskin Richard 2016 Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions Vol 1 p 100 University of California Press ISBN 0520293487 a b Sadie Stanley and Tyrrell John eds 2003 The New Grove Stravinsky p 3 Oxford University Press ISBN 0199729433 a b c Truslove David 2008 Liner notes Stravinsky Piano Music Naxos Records a b c d Joseph Charles M January 1981 Stravinsky s Piano Scherzo 1902 in Perspective A New Starting Point pp 83 84 The Musical Quarterly Vol 67 No 1 Retrieved 22 February 2018 subscription required Stravinsky Igor and Craft Robert 1981 Expositions and Developments pp 44 45 University of California Press ISBN 0520044037 reprint of the 1959 edition Stravinsky Igor and Craft Robert 1982 Dialogues p 133 University of California Press ISBN 0520046501 reprint of the 1961 edition Stravinsky Igor 1973 Scherzo 1902 for piano edited by Eric Walter White Canada Faber Music Limited Gramophone 9 January 2013 Review Stravinsky Works for Solo Piano Martin Jones Retrieved 22 February 2018 Further reading editGriffiths Graham 2013 Stravinsky s Piano Genesis of a Musical Language pp 29 32 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521191785 detailed analysis of the Scherzo score and its musical influences Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scherzo Stravinsky amp oldid 1151354341, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
