Skazka
Russian composer
Definition
Literally 'tale' or 'folktale' — more precise than the English 'Fairy Tale', which was only applied after Medtner's first American tour in 1924. Medtner's skazki are not descriptive tales or adventure stories but, in Boris Asafyev's words, 'tales about personal experiences, about the conflicts of a man's inner life.'
Interpretive Guidance
When approaching a Skazka, think of it as a tone poem in miniature: it has a narrative arc, a distinct character, and often a sense of return or transformation. Let the music tell the story without imposing a literal programme.