Russian composer Alexander Skryabin's life spanned the late romantic era and the momentous early years of the twentieth century, but was cut short before the end of the first world war. In a predominantly conservative era in the Russian musical scene, he drew inspiration from poets, philosophers, and dramatists of the Silver Age, a period of radical artistic renewal in Russia. Possessed by an apocalyptic vision of transformation, aspects of which he shared with other Russian thinkers and artists of the period, Skryabin transformed his musical language from a ripe Romantic style into a far-reaching, radical instrument for the expression of his ideas.This newly translated collection of the composer's writings and letters allows readers to experience and understand Skryabin's worldview, personality, and life as never before. The Notebooks of Alexander Skryabin features commentary based on original materials and accounts by the composer's friends and associates, dispelling popular misconceptions about his life and revealing the dazzling constellation of philosophies that comprised his world of ideas, from Ancient Greek and German Idealist philosophy to the writings of Nietzsche, and Indian culture to the Theosophical writings of H. P. Blavatsky. Close textual readings and new biographical insights converge to present a vivid impression of Skryabin's thought and its impact on his musical compositions.

Foreword: Vladimir AshkenazyEditorial procedure:The translationsRussian datesAcknowledgementsPreface : Simon NichollsCultural contextBiographical elementsThe Writings of Skryabin (Russkie propilei, Moscow, 1919)[Note by Mikhail Gershenzon]A Note by Boris de Schloezer on the Preliminary Action 4The Notebooks:I. A single sheet, written at the age of about sixteenII. Period of the First Symphony, around 1900III. Chorus from Symphony No. 1IV. Libretto for an opera, after the First Symphony but before 1903V. Notebook, summer 1904, SwitzerlandVI. Notebook, 1904-5VII. Notebook, 1905-6VIII. The Poem of EcstasyIX. [The Preliminary Action]:1. Initial version, full text2. Final, fair copy of the text, unfinishedThe Growth of Skryabin's Thought Simon NichollsA 'philosopher-musician'?The influence of philosophy:Music and philosophySkryabin's readingErnest RenanGreek philosophyGerman IdealismRussian philosophy and Russian SymbolismConference at GenevaThe influence of TheosophyIndian cultureSkryabin's philosophy of musicSkryabin's 'teaching'Thought in words, music, colour: Skryabin's developing Symbolist practiceSkryabin's poetic languageThe Poem of Ecstasy: text and music (1905-1908)Prometheus: music, colour and the word (1908-1910)The Preliminary Action:A preliminary to what? - 'The idea of the Mystery'(Leonid Sabaneyev)Performance as sacramentThe music for the Preliminary ActionPeople and publications:Leonid SabaneyevMikhail Gershenzon and Russkie propileiSupplementary texts by Alexander Skryabin:I. Reminiscences of youthII. Text to an unfinished Ballade for piano (1887)III. Romance (1891)IV. An early statement of aspiration (1892)Letters to Natal'ya Sekerina:V. [June 1892]VI. [July 1892]VII. [May/June 1893]VIII. [June 1893]Letters to Margarita Morozova:IX. April 1904X. [April/May 1906]Letters to Tat'yana de Schloezer:XI. [January 1905]XII. [December 1906]XIII. Poem to accompany Sonata No. 4.XIV. Open Letter to A. N. Bryanchaninov: 'Art and Politics' (1915)Biographical notesBibliography