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If you’re a classical music lover, you’ve probably enjoyed the beautiful piano works of Chopin or Liszt. But today’s piece is something completely different. Prokofiev’s “Visions Fugitives” No.14 “Feroce” will strike your ears in just one minute. This piano piece feels less like a musical instrument and more like a weapon. Let’s dive into this fascinating work together.
What is Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives? The Dawn of 20th Century Modernism
Prokofiev’s “Visions Fugitives” Op.22 is a collection of 20 short piano pieces composed between 1915 and 1917. The entire work runs about 18-20 minutes, with each piece averaging around one minute in length.
The title “Visions Fugitives” comes from a sonnet that Russian poet Konstantin Balmont improvised after hearing Prokofiev perform. Like the poetic line “I am but a fragment of a cloud. See: I am drifting,” these 20 pieces express different moods, each one fleeting like visions that appear and disappear.
Prokofiev’s Musical World During the Russian Revolution
The period when Prokofiev composed this work was extraordinary. From 1915 to 1917, Russia was gradually collapsing amid the chaos of World War I. Then in 1917, the February Revolution led to the Tsar’s abdication, followed by the Bolshevik Revolution in October.
At the time, Prokofiev was a young 24-26 year old musician, a radical modernist fresh out of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He held a radical musical philosophy: “The piano is a percussion instrument. It should be struck with fists, not fingers.”
In fact, Prokofiev wrote in his diary: “The February Revolution found me in Petrograd. When the gunfire was intense, I hid behind the corner of the house.” The violence and terror of the revolution he witnessed is embedded directly in these pieces.
Prokofiev Feroce No.14 – The True Meaning of Ferocity
“Feroce” is Italian for “fierce” or “ferocious,” and this piece lives up to its title perfectly.
Explosive Energy Packed into One Minute
The most striking feature of this piece is its length. An enormous amount of energy explodes in just 60-70 seconds. From the very first sound, there’s an almost aggressive piano attack, with repetitive bass notes that sound like machine gun fire.
A 20th Century Modernist Piano Work Rejecting Romanticism
Chopin and Liszt’s works are characterized by beautiful melodies and elegant harmonies, right? But Prokofiev’s Feroce is the complete opposite. There’s no “beautiful melody” in the traditional sense here. Instead, you’ll find dissonance, irregular rhythms, and mechanical repetition.
This is a complete rejection of 19th-century Romantic music. Prokofiev believed that “music should not be beautiful. It should be truthful.” And the truth of the 1917 Russian Revolution was anything but beautiful.
Exploring the Complete Structure of Visions Fugitives Op.22
Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives consists of 20 pieces, each with a completely different character.
| No. | Character | Length |
|---|---|---|
| No.1 | Meditative and quiet opening | ~2 min |
| No.5 | Light and playful | ~1 min |
| No.7 | Pastoral atmosphere | ~1 min |
| No.14 Feroce | Violent and intense march | ~1 min |
| No.15 | Unstable and nervous | ~1.5 min |
| No.19 | Expression of revolutionary explosion | ~1.5 min |
| No.20 | Calm conclusion | ~3 min |
Notice how No.14 Feroce and No.15 are deliberately placed to contrast each other. If No.14 expresses “external violence,” No.15 represents “internal anxiety.”
Listening Guide to Feroce for Classical Music Beginners
First Listen – Experience the Shock
When you first listen, just experience the pure shock of it. You might think, “Is this really music?” It’s completely different from the beautiful works of Chopin or Debussy. But that’s exactly what Prokofiev intended.
Second Listen – Understanding the Structure
Try dividing this short one-minute piece into three parts:
- First 20 seconds: Mechanical bass notes repeat. It sounds like machine gun fire.
- Middle 30 seconds: Dissonance explodes. It sounds like screaming, or maybe the voices of a crowd.
- Final 10 seconds: Everything ends violently.
Third Listen – Listening with History
Listen while thinking about the 1917 Russian Revolution. The collapse of the Tsarist regime, gunfire in the streets, the cries of the crowd… Prokofiev witnessed all of this in Petrograd and translated those sounds onto the piano.
Recommended Recordings of Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives
The Composer’s Own Performance
There’s a version that Prokofiev himself recorded in the 1920s-30s. The rough, mechanical sound best demonstrates the composer’s intentions.
Recommended Modern Pianists
- Tedd Joselson: Known for his clear and intense performance. His complete recording is great for experiencing all of Op.22.
- Alexander Melnikov: Uses historical instruments to recreate the sound of the era.
- Van Cliburn: His legendary 1950s recording offers a more refined interpretation.
Search YouTube for “Prokofiev Visions Fugitives No.14 Feroce” to compare various performances.
From the 19th to 20th Century – Experiencing Music’s Great Transformation
When you compare Prokofiev’s Feroce with Chopin’s works, you can really feel the dramatic difference.
Chopin vs Prokofiev
– Chopin: Restrained elegance, beautiful melodies, hope and memory
– Prokofiev: Explicit violence, rejection of melody, explosion of the present
It’s only about 80 years apart, but musically they’re completely different worlds. This is the turning point from Romanticism to Modernism.
History Through Music – A Piano Work Capturing the Revolutionary Era
Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives Op.22 isn’t just a collection of piano pieces. It’s like a historical documentary that records in music the turbulent era Russia experienced from 1915 to 1918.
Particularly No.14 Feroce is the most violent and direct expression of revolutionary terror in the collection. The intensity you feel in just one minute will be a truly special experience.
Listen and Feel It for Yourself
If listening to the complete work feels overwhelming, at least try No.14 Feroce. It’s just one minute. But that one minute might open up a new perspective on classical music for you.
If possible, I also recommend listening to the complete Op.22 (about 18-20 minutes) continuously. You can experience how 20 different “fleeting visions” create one cohesive journey. Especially after listening through No.19 “Revolution” and No.20 “Calm Conclusion,” you’ll fully understand the message Prokofiev was trying to convey.
