The 4 Preludes, Op. 22 by Alexander Scriabin were composed in 1897 and published the following year by Mitrofan Belyayev in Leipzig. These short works belong to the composer’s early period and reflect the influence of Chopin, while already hinting at the harmonic and emotional intensity of Scriabin’s mature style.

The set is among his most frequently performed early piano miniatures and is often included in recital programs and teaching repertoire as an introduction to Scriabin’s sound world.

Background

By the mid-1890s, Scriabin had achieved early success with his Preludes, Op. 11, and continued to explore the genre as a vehicle for concise emotional expression.

The Op. 22 set was written shortly after his marriage to pianist Vera Ivanovna Isakovich, during a period of increasing confidence and refinement in his piano writing.

The four preludes display a mastery of texture and tone color that anticipates Scriabin’s later harmonic experimentation. Each is cast in a distinct character and key, forming a cohesive miniature cycle rather than a collection of unrelated pieces.

Structure

The set consists of four short preludes in contrasting keys and moods:

1. Prelude No. 1 in G-sharp minor – Andante

2. Prelude No. 2 in C-sharp minor – Andante

3. Prelude No. 3 in B major – Allegretto

4. Prelude No. 4 in B minor – Andantino

Typical performance time for the complete set is around 6 minutes.

Reception and legacy

The 4 Preludes, Op. 22 have long been admired for their balance of lyricism and intensity. They remain a popular set among pianists for both performance and study, offering insight into the stylistic transition between Scriabin’s early Chopin-inspired miniatures and his later, more harmonically adventurous works.