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Welcome to the TCHAIKOVSKY COMPOSITION NOTES Page of aMUSIClassical Directory Our Classical Music website for good music lovers. ARTS NEWS resources ALMANACS ANNIVERSARIES MUSICIANS milestones notible deaths this year DISCUSSION LISTS join and post Click to subscribe to MUSIClassical discussion list

Classical Music Notes and synopsis' of major compositions by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Russian, Votkinsk 7 MAY 1849 ~ St.Petersburg, 6 NOV 1893 Operas, 6 Symphonies, Orchestral Works, Chamber, Piano Vocal and Choral Works Tchaikovsky, Peter I. Capriccio Italian Op. 45-The scenes and sounds of Tuscany, Italy, led Tchaikovsky to write this Fantasy for Orchestra. He wrote the Capriccio Italian in tribute to a country where he said he spent some of his happiest days. There are a few Italian folk songs and street songs assembled in the work. Tchaikovsky Concerto for Piano, see Piano Concerto Tchaikovsky Concerto for Violin, see Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky Francesca Da Rimini Tchaikovsky Little Russian See Sym No 2 in c Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony Composed in 1885. FP in Moscow in March of 1886. The score is dedicated to his friend, composer Mily Balakirev (Bah LAH kee rev). It is based on the epic drama of George Gordon, Lord Byron. It romanticizes the personal and political problems of the mid 13th century King of Siscily and South Italy who lost his throne to the Papacy, regained it, and lost it again to Charles the 1st of France. Tchaikovsky March Slav Op 31 When the Russo-Turkish war broke out in 1876 this piece caught the mood of the times with the Slavonic march based on Serbian tunes mixed with the Russian national anthem. Made up of Russian and Serbian folksongs this piece glorifies war and military life. It was commissioned for a benefit to care for Serbian soldiers who were wounded fighting the Turks. The Russians supported Serbia, hoping to win back land in the Crimean War. The Serbs did not cooperate with the Russians who had to declare war once again on Turkey. Tchaikovsky Mozartiana Suite No 4 in G Composed in one month from Mid June to Mid July 1887, following the finish of his opera 'The Enchantress'. The 'Mozartiana Suite' was to celebrate the centennial of the FP of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'. Tchikovsky, at the age of 12, was inspired to become a composer after seeing this Mozart Opera. His 'Mozartiana' uses various Mozart themes. The Suite was FP on 14 NOV 1889 and conducted by Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Last Ballet of his three. Clara meets the Nutcracker Prince and arrives in the land of sweets where dancers from all over the world dance for them. Tchaikovsky Pathetique See Sym No 6 Tchaikovsky Polish See Sym No 3 Tchaikovsky 'Polonaise' from Eugene Onegin The opera EO is based on a Pushkin poem. The 'Polonaise' comes from the party scene at Prince Gremins residence in the final act. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 1 in b flat, Op 23 Tchaikovsky's attraction to music was said to border on madness. He lived in poverty until a wealthy patron promised support on condition that he never saw her. Though gay, he married and attempted suicide. He wove folk melodies into his symphonies. The most popular of the three Tchaikovsky piano concertos was the first in b flat minor, composed in 1875, premiered in Boston on October 25, 1875 and in Russia one month later. Hans Von Bulow was the soloist. It is one of the most popular concertos if not THE most famous. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 2 In October of 1879, Tchaikovsky spent three days correcting proofs of his first orchestral suite and then planned to relax. He said he wanted to read, walk, play and to dream to his heart's desire. After about five days he became bored and began work on his second piano concerto. From the beginning the work had little success. It was always overshadowed by the first PC. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 3 Based on a symphony in e-flat composed in 1892, a work he abandoned then resurected for this one mmt PC and finished in July of 1893, just before his death in November of that year. Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture The writings of Shakespeare influenced many 19th century composers. Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet follows the playwrite's scenario quite closely. It is one of his early works and was composed under the encouraging eye of Mily Balakirev at the Moscow Conservatory. Plans for the Balakirev ballet were started in 1869 on an idea based on the Shakespeare play. It was premired in just six weeks. It underwent revisions in 1870. A later version was completed in 1880 and is heard most frequently today.The music was scored in the Overture Fantasy to represent Friar Lawrence's Cell, then the Fued of the Montegues and the Capulets, followed by the Lover's Theme and concluding with a Funeral Lament... Tchaikovsky 'Seasons' aka The Months Originally a piano suite consisting of 12 short pieces each bearing the title of a month and conveys its characteristics. The work was commissioned by a St. Petersburg magazine that published each solo piece every month througout 1876. Many of the pieces were inspired by European Jewish Folk Songs. These selections were later orchestrated. The collection is also known as 'The Months' Tchaikovsky 'Serenade in C', for Strings, Op 48 In the summer of 1880 Tchaikovsky received a commission to write a composition for an exhibition honoring the silver jubilee of the reign of Tsar Alexander the second. He wrote the 1812 Overture and the Serenade for Strings. It is written in four movements and is remarkable because of the wide variety of tonal color and nuances that Tchaikovsky was able to obtain from just the strings. This work was the first ballet choreographed by George Balanchine in the United States. This was in 1934 after he became one of the co-founders of the School of the American ballet. Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty His second ballet. FP at Marynski Theater in St. Petersburg in 1890. Scenario based on Charles Perraults fairytale, The Sleeping Beauty suite has been prepared by Alexander Ziloti a Tchikovsky student in 1890 with parts from differents acts of the ballet. Tchaikovsky Snow Maiden Incidental music The play was written in Russia in 1873, based on Slavik folk tales. Tchaikovsky scored incidental music for the play. In 1882 Rimsky-Korsakov wrote an opera based on the play. Tchaikovsky Swan Lake His First Ballet. Tchaikovsky Sym No 1 Known as Winter Dreams the first symphony was composed during the ominous period of East-West tension in March of 1866. The movements are based on Russian folk melodies. This was the same year as the dedication of the Moscow Conservatory. Tchikovsky was teacher of theory at the new music school. Tchaikovsky Sym No 2 in c Known as the Little Russian. The subtitle refers to a geographical area of the former Soviet Union known as the Ukraine. Music based on folk songs of the people of a small village called 'Kamenka' where he summered in 1872. He drew heavily from their folk music. Tchaikovsky Sym No 3 Polish Composed while living with friends in the Ukraine in June 1875. In five movements the symphony in D is his op 29. Some of the material was originally conceived for a cantata. Most of the music is based on German and Polish dances. It has become known as the "Polish" Symphony. The FP In Moscow, on November 19, 1875. Tchaikovsky Sym No 4 One of the most forceful and dramatic of the romantic symphonies it was composed during a period of great personal turmoil. During the period 1877 through 78...an unsuccessful mariage almost drove him to suicide. His brother took him to Switzerland to rest and recover from a nervous breakdown. The third mmt is a satirical scherzo for strings played pizzicato with fingers plucking the strings rather than bowed. The 4th mmt is quite heroic with one of the most swashbuckling finales in all music. Tchaikovsky Sym No 5 in e, Op 64 In the spring of 1888 at the age of 48, he retired to his country estate near Moscow to work on his 5th Sym. It was FP in November of 1888, in St. Petersburg. He conducted the first two performances of the work that month. The first time he was not pleased with the score but after a few hearings he became fonder of it. Tchaikovsky Sym No 6 in b, Op 74 Subtitled Pathetique. His last sym. written in 1893 and completed on April 15th. FP by students and teachers at the Moscow Concervatory in October. It was not enthusiastically received by the audience or performers alike. It was first called A program sym, then 'Tragic' and later titled 'Pathetic'. After another more favorable performance in November of 1893 it was finally formally titled, 'Pathetique'. Tchaikovsky 'Suite No 1' Shortly after recording these three ballet suites in 1978, Mstislav Rostropovich likened conducting the Berlin Philharmonic to driving a locomotive. You get on, and you go where it takes you. Tchaikovsky Suite Characteristique Suite No. 2, Op 53 Composed in 1883 after a european tour. With this influence, it was finished in the Ukraine in the fall and FP on February 4th of 1884. Tchaikovsky 'Suite No 3' Tchaikovsky 'Suite No 4' (See 'Mozartiana'). Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Composed in December of 1876 for cello virtuoso Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, a friend and colleague of Tchaikovsky at the Moscow Conservatory. The work was FP in November of 1877. Fitzenhagen was the soloist but he rearranged some of the variations which made it conform to a cello concerto. The variations are based on an elegant 18th century style rococo theme in tribute to Mozart. Tchikovsky loved the music of Mozart and it's said he could be brought to tears just by mentioning Mozart's name. It's one of the most popular works composed for cello. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Premiered in December of 1881. When the concerto was completed in 1878 he dedicated it to Leopold Auer, the most popular violinist of that day. Auer said no-one could play it. It was FP by Adolf Brodsky in 1881. Auer revised his opinion of the work and taught it to his pupil Jascha Heifetz. Tchaikovsky'Voyevoda (Voh yeh VOH dah )- A Russian leader of high military rank, such as a General. An early Opera and a tone poem. Tchaikovsky Winter Dreams See Sym No 1 BOOKS: Tchaikovsky Through Others' Eyes (Russian Music Studies) - Alexander Poznansky(Editor), Robert J. Bird (Translator); Hardcover Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2: With Orchestral Reduction for Second Piano - - Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, et al; Paperback Tchaikovsky and His World (Bard Music Festival Series.) - - Leslie Kearney(Editor); Paperback COMPACT DISC AUDIO: Tschaikowsky: Ballett-Suiten / Rostropovich, Berlin PO - - Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky(Composer), et al; Audio CD Tchaikovsky: Symphonies no 4, 5, & 6 Karajan, Berlin PO -- Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky(Composer), et al; Audio CD Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto; Dvorak, et al Perlman, et al -- Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky(Composer), et al; Audio CD BOOKS and COMPACT DISC AUDIO enter Tchaikovsky in Search Engine: Search Now: our e-mail address is: comments@MUSIClassical.com ........... WEBannouncer use this link to: Selected Internet Search Engines

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