Obscure Music Monday: Prokofiev's Two Poems

Sergei Prokofiev (April 23, 1891 - March 5, 1953) was a Russian and Soviet pianist, composer, and conductor.  A graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Prokofiev is undoubtedly one of the most well known composers of the 20th century, and many of his works are staples in the repertoire, including his concertos for violin, cello, and piano,  seven symphonies, and many ballets and operas.

Much of Prokofiev's earlier works aren't as well known as his symphonies or concertos, but many of them are still just as brilliant. Two Poems, for voice and piano, is one of those earlier works that shows a great deal of musical maturity. The first movement titled "There Are Other Planets," is after the poem by Konstatin Balmont, and is translated as such:

There are other planets. The skies are clear and completely calm there, 
the mimosa blossoms are softer, and sweet grasses grow higher. 
The clarity that plays there, it is less changeable than here, 
we cherish it always and can always smile.

There are other planets for another existence.  
We will return there, but later, but much later, 
when a day we have lost cannot be returned to us unchanged, 
when we don't like anything in this world where the herbs grow grey 
and without fragrance, funereal herbs.

The sweet grass trembles sadly under the stars, 
seeking peace in the mournful places,
and pushes on our tombs, 
so calmly, so calmly, so sad and calm, 
under the serenity of the moon.

This movement is gloomy and mysterious; the piano part what starry orbs floating in the night sky might sound like. Impressionistic and intriguing, Prokofiev marries the text and music together effortlessly.

In the second movement, titled "The Drifting Boat" is after a poem by Alexei Apukhtin:

The boat left...dawn had scarcely broken.
The words of farewell rang in my ears
The breath an unexpected greeting
The leaden sea murmured all around
It all seems to me a sweet bedtime story,
A magical, unimaginable fairy tale!

But no! It was no dream! In the distance
Two ivory seagulls skimmed over the water,
And the grey clouds flew by,
and all that I could not express, and failed to say
stirred in my soul, and the east flowed faintly red,
And the East murmured!

This movement has a similar gloominess, but is not celestial; it's more down to earth, and you can hear the movement of the water. The red sky hints at possible tragedy on the water as the works quietly fades away to the end.

Here's a recording of this intriguing work for you to enjoy!*

Andrey Slavny

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