Alexander Scriabin

Alexander Scriabin

Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was a Russian pianist and composer who was much influenced by Theosophy.

Theosophical Society connections

Belgian artist Jean Delville became his friend. Delville was a dedicated Theosophist and introduced him to new concepts. Delville designed the cover for the score to the Prometheus symphony.

He adored the cover design of his Promotheus symphony. It showed a sexless face surrounded by cosmic symbols, nebulae of clouds, spiraling comets, and was drawn by his Belgian friend, Jean Delville (b. 1867), a bachelor, professor of Fine Arts at the Royal Academy, and President of the national Federation of Artists and Sculptors. Looking at that cover of the androgyne or hermaphrodite, Scriabin said, "In those ancient races, male and female were one… the separation into poles hadn't yet taken place..

Later years

Scriabin at his last recital. By B. Kustodiev

On April 2, 1915, Scriabin performed his final recital in St. Petersburg.

Musical compositions

Theosophist Margaret Cousins, a concert pianist, wrote: "His music has constantly in it a most poignant sweet quality which seems to pierce to the holy of holies of one's being."

Scriabin Museum

The Alexander Scriabin Memorial Museum was established on July 17, 1922 to preserve the apartment where the composer lived for his final three years, in an old mansion on Arbat Street in Moscow. The composer's prized possessions were carefully restored, including his copy of The Secret Doctrine. The museum preserves Scriabin's library, letters, sheet music, and other items.

Additional resources

The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists articles about Scriabin.