Category Archives: On Music

By Flor de Liz Fierro Album for the Young Op. 39 Tchaikovsky composed this album during the summer of 1878, during his briefly visit in Kamenka with his nephew’s family. The composer was inspired by the delightful environment of the town, as well as the nice company of his family, and was during this time,Continue reading “Album for the Young”

by Preston Griffith Just days before his death on November 6, 1893, Tchaikovsky premiered his Sixth Symphony “Pathétique” in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This symphony would become known as his greatest, yet most pessimistic work, and the composer himself stated that he loved the Sixth Symphony “as I have never loved any of my other musicalContinue reading “(Mis?)Interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony “Pathétique””

It has been said that Tchaikovsky’s personal life was not reflected in many of his works and the contrasting characteristics in his music simply reflected his creativity. His music was a perfect combination of both emotion and intellect. However, towards the end of his life his works -particularly Symphonies- started to reflect a more autobiographicalContinue reading “Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony”

Andrea Davis Tchaikovsky composed his last symphony in February and March of 1893, finishing the orchestration in late August. Tchaikovsky declared it one of his “best” and “most sincere” works, and stated that he loved the 6th Symphony, “as I have never loved any of my other musical offspring.” It is generally accepted as oneContinue reading “Opinion of the “Not-So-Secret” Program: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 – Pathétique”

With each piece of media, especially music, there is always room for interpretation. Each interpretation will be different from the others. Upon seeing one’s interpretation, some people will agree with it, while others may not see it that way. In this case, there have been quite a number of interpretations regarding Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, alsoContinue reading ““Self-Indictment” versus “Homosexual” Interpretations”

IOLANTA Tchaikovsky’s Last Opera. In 1892 Tchaikovsky was approached to write a double-bill spectacle for a Russian audience, a one act-opera and a two-act ballet. He immediately imagined a drama that had caught his attention years back from the Danish writer René Hertz. It was the story of the French Princess Yolande de Lorraine, (‘Iolante’Continue reading “Iolanta, Tchaikovsky’s Last Opera.”

by Preston Griffith Tchaikovsky first had the idea of composing a suite from the works of Mozart in 1884 while he was working on the recitatives and translation of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. He was enamored with Mozart’s compositions and played them on the keyboard in his free time.  After a few years, heContinue reading “Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 4 “Mozartiana””

Andrea Davis In January of 1889, just before Tchaikovsky departed on his second foreign tour, he began composing The Sleeping Beauty. Working throughout the year, and in collaboration with Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Marius Petipa, the ballet was completed in approximately forty days total. The Sleeping Beauty premiered in January of 1890; while critical reception wasContinue reading “The Sleeping Beauty: Valse No. 6”

Between June and October of 1888, Tchaikovsky composed Hamlet, an overture-fantasia in F minor. It’s opus number is Op. 67, and it is based on the Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (1599-1601). This overture-fantasia is written for symphony orchestra, and it is one movement long. It is Lento lugubre- Allegro vivace,Continue reading “Hamlet Overture, Op. 67”

By Aníbal Acevedo In 1878 Tchaikovsky wrote a letter to Von Meck where he tells her how great he felt attending the regular Sunday Eucharistic celebration, and how he wanted to contribute writing music that will honor the most beautiful and important (as he mentioned) Liturgy in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Tchaikovsky thought that previousContinue reading “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by P. Tchaikovsky”