Scriabin: Preludes

Composed between 1888 and 1896, Scriabin's 24 Preludes, Op. 11, is a set of pieces for piano solo, modeled after Frédéric Chopin's 24 Preludes, Opus 28. Like the Chopin set, the Scriabin set covers all 24 major and minor keys and follows the same key sequence: C major, A minor, G major, E minor, D major, B minor and so on, alternating major keys with their relative minors, and following the ascending circle of fifths.

Scriabin's Prelude, Op. 22, No. 2 in C sharp minor, is the second of his Four Preludes Opus 22 for piano solo. From Hyperion Records: 

"1897, the year of Scriabin’s marriage and of work on the Third Sonata, brought four more preludes, Op 22. The chromaticism of No 2 is remarkable and No 3 could be marked ‘A la Mazur’, with a characteristic rhythmic catch in its melodic figures."

Alexander Scriabin (1871- 1915) was a Russian composer and pianist. He was highly regarded during his lifetime, and is a favorite composer among pianists.

His early piano works resemble Frédéric Chopin's and include music in many forms that Chopin himself employed. Scriabin's middle-period pieces and late-period pieces employed very unusual harmonies and textures. His late works presaged twelve-tone composition and serialism.