Prokofiev: Sarcasms and Visions Fugitives

“In every fugitive vision I see worlds,
full of the changing play of rainbow hues…”
Konstantin Balmont

Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Visions Fugitives (fleeting visions) by Sergey Prokofiev is a set of pieces based on a poem written by Russian poet Konstantin Balmont. They were composed between 1915 and 1917 and premiered by Prokofiev on April 15, 1918 in Petrograd, Soviet Union.

The pieces, though far from atonal, contain dissonant harmonies similar in nature of music composed by Prokofiev’s contemporaries (Schoenberg and Scriabin), although still retaining highly original concepts in both tonality and rhythm.

Read more at Classical Archives

In 2007 the modern Jazz ensemble “Quartetski Does Prokofiev” released a CD which in a unique way captures the spontaneous spirit of these pieces. Listen to some free samples here!

Sarcasm, opus 17 no 4

The five Sarcasms (opus 17) are percussive pieces with considerable rhythmic motion.  They storm, rage and thunder throughout.

The Visions Fugitives, Sarcasms and Prokofiev’s own piano transcriptions of the March and Scherzo from his opera “The Love for Three Oranges” opus 33 have now been added to Piano Street’s sheet music library.