Alexander Scriabin was a Russian composer and pianist. His work is believed to be influenced by synesthesia. Synaesthesia is a condition where a certain sense may trigger another sense, such associating the number 5 with the colour green. Many even consider Scriabin to be the leading Russian Symbolist composer.

Although his works may be considered to be influenced by synesthesia, few people actually believe he experienced this condition himself. He is doubted due to his colour system corresponding to the circle of fifths, whereas it doesn’t for most people who experience synesthesia.

Nevertheless, in his performances, he would use light and colour as well as sound. One of his symphonies called “Prometheus: The Poem of Fire”, includes a part for a machine known as ‘Luce’ (Italian for “light”), which is a colour organ. Although it is played like a piano, rather than producing sound, it projects coloured light through the room.

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and theorist and many believe him to have experienced synesthesia. He has studied colour theory and gives an insight in his books on how he believes colours interact with each other as well as having produced a book of linked poems and woodcuts called “Klänge” (Sounds). He wrote multiple play scripts with titles like “The Yellow Sound”, or “The Green Sound” etc. These were intriguing experiments that blend words, colour, and music into one and the same. He describes his experience of painting using a musical metaphor: “I had little thought for houses and trees, drawing coloured lines and blobs on the canvas with my palette knife, and making them sing just as powerfully as I knew how.”

Contrasting Sounds

Quiet Pink