The Poem of Ecstasy

Alexander Scriabin's Symphony No. 4 (opus 54), titled "The Poem of Ecstasy" ("Le Poème de l'extase") was written around 1905. The work was composed during Scriabin's active involvement in the Theosophical Society. The symphony is the only symphony Scriabin wrote in one movement, which lasts about 20 minutes. [cite web| last = Kostitsyn| first = Evgeni | title =Scriabin, Alexander Nikolayevich| work = CDKMusic.com| publisher =CDK Music, Inc.| year =2003| url =http://www.cdkmusic.com/Scriabin%20Symph%201%20Poem%20Ecstasy.htm| accessdate =2008-04-29]

Scriabin wrote vaguely about Poem and described three sections of the work:
* his soul in the orgy of love
* the realization of a fantastic dream
* the glory of his own art.cite web| last =Benson| first =Robert E.| title =Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy, Op. 54| work =ClassicalCDReview.com| url =http://www.classicalcdreview.com/scriabin.htm| accessdate =2008-04-29]

He also wrote a long poem to accompany, but not be read with, the music. It ends with, "I am a moment illuminating eternity....I am affirmation...I am ecstasy."

In 1908, in New York City, Scriabin performed this incredible symphony to the accompaniment of the first colored electric lights, attached to a keyboard; and the members of this 100 piece orchestra dressed in white tuxedos to help reflect this first light-show ever.

There was also specially chosen incense that burned in the auditorium, that also contributed to the performance, in which, as quoted afterwards by an audience member, "My body ceased to exist".

Scriabin professed to evaluate music as being the most highly evolved of all the human arts. He also claimed that the emotion of ecstasy was the most highly evolved of all the human emotions. The Poem of Ecstasy attempts to combine these two aesthetic principles.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for 3 flutes, piccolo, 3 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 8 horns, 5 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, small and large bells, tam-tam, celesta, organ (harmonium if the organ is not available), 2 harps and strings.

Literature

Reference is made by Henry Miller to this symphony in Nexus, the third volume of The Rosy Crucifixion.

"That "Poème de l'extase"? Put it on loud. His music sounds like I think - sometimes. Has that far-off cosmic itch. Divinely fouled up. All fire and air. The first time I heard it I played it over and over. (...) It was like a bath of ice, cocaine and rainbows. For weeks I went about in a trance. Something had happened to me. (...) Everytime a thought seized me a little door would open inside my chest, and there, in this comfy little nest sat a bird, the sweetest, gentlest bird imaginable. 'Think it out!' he would chirp. 'Think it out to the end!' And I would, by God. Never any effort involved. Like an "étude" gliding off a glacier."

References

External links

*