Akkordbeziehungen und Funktionsfolgen in den Kompositionen von Skrjabins mittlerer Schaffensperiode
Relations between Chords and Functional Sequences in Compositions from Scriabin's Middle Creative Period

Summary/Abstract: The study deals with relations between chords and functional successions in compositions from the middle creative period of Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (1872-1915). The most typical harmonic technique used by Scriabin in this phase of his compositional development is the succession of two chords at the tritone, characteristic in the union of the Phrygian (P) and Dominant (D) functions. Scriabin uses four- to six-note sonorities at both the Dominant and Phrygian as well as at other tonal levels. Much used in op. 44-58, the P-D sequence is often segmented and where an exchange of P and D functions sometimes take place (the sequence P-D turns into D-P in the key of the tritone). Another tritone technique is the subdominant with the prime altered upwards and the tonic. Among the functional successions which in the harmonic movement precede the P-D sequence, especially the application of extratonal dominants and mediants can be pointed out. The role of the tonic is constantly weakened, both in the course of the composition and in its conclusion.

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