TSCHAIKOWSKY,
Peter Iltitsch, one of the most remarkable Russian composers of the day, was born April 25, 1840, at Wotkinsk in the government of Wiatka (Ural District), where his father was engineer to the Imperial mines. In 1850 the father was appointed Director of the Technological Institute at St. Petersburgh, and there the boy entered the School of Jurisprudence, into which only the sons of high-class government officials are admitted. Having completed the prescribed course in 1859, he was appointed to a post in the ministry of Justice. In 1862, however, when the Conservatoire of Music was founded at St. Petersburg, he left the service of the state, and entered the new school as a student of music. He remained there till 1865, studying harmony and counterpoint under Prof. Zaremba, and composition under Anton Rubinstein. In 1865 he took his diploma as a musician, together with a prize medal for the composition of a cantata on Schiller's ode, 'An die Freude.' In 1866 Nicholas Rubinstein invited him to take the post of Professor of Harmony, Composition, and the History of Music at the new Conservatoire of Moscow; he held this post, doing good service as a teacher, for twelve years. Since 1878 he has devoted himself entirely to composition, and has been living in St. Petersburg, Italy, Switzerland, and Kiew. M. Tschaikowsky makes frequent use of the rhythm and tunes of Russian People's songs and dances, occasionally also of certain quaint harmonic sequences peculiar to Russian church music. His compositions, more or less, bear the impress of the Slavonic temperament—fiery exaltation on a basis of languid melancholy. He is fond of huge and fantastic outlines, of bold modulations and strongly marked rhythms, of subtle melodic turns and exuberant figuration, and he delights in gorgeous effects of orchestration. His music everywhere makes the impression of genuine spontaneous originality.
The following is a list[1] of his works:—
| Op. |
1. Scherzo Russe and Impromptu, for PF. solo.
2. Souvenir de Hapsal. 3 morceaux. PF. solo.
3. Overture and Ballet airs from Opera 'Voievode.'
4. Valse Caprice in D. PF. solo.
5. Romance, F minor. PF. solo.
6. 6 Lieder for one voice with PF. accompaniment.
7. Valse Scherzo in A. PF. Solo.
8. Capricclo, G♭ PF. solo.
9. 3 Morceaux, Reverie, Polka, Mazurka. PF. solo.
10. Nocturne in F, and Humoreske in G. PF. solo.
11. String-Quartet in D.
12.
13. Symphony for Orchestra, No. 1.
14.
15. Ouverture Triomphale (sur l'hymne national Danois).
16. 6 Lieder (with Russian text).
17.
18. Fantasia for Orchestra, 'The Tempest.'
19. 6 Morceaux. PF. solo.
20.
21. 6 Clavierstücke über ein Thema.
22. String-Quartet in F.
23. Concerto Pianoforte and Orchestra, in B♭ minor.
24.
25. 6 Lieder.
26. Serenade mélancolique for Violin and Orchestra.
27. 6 Lieder.
28. 6 Lieder.
29. Symphony for Orchestra, No. 3 in D.
30. String-Quartet in E♭ minor.
31. Marche Slave for Orchestra.
32. Symphonic Poem, 'Francesca von Rimini.'
33. Variations on a Theme rococo for Violoncello and Orchestra.
34. Scherzo, Violin and Orchestra.
35. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D.
36. Symphony for Orchestra, No. 4, in F minor.
37. Sonata for PF. in G.
38. 6 Lieder.
39. Album d'enfants, 24 little pieces for PF. solo.
40. 12 Stücke. PF. solo.
41. Russian Liturgy for four voices.
42. 3 Pieces for Violin, with PF. accompaniment.
43. Suite for Orchestra, No. 1.
44. Concerto for PF. and Orchestra, No. 2, in G.
45. Caprice Italien for Orchestra.
46. 6 Vocal Duets.
47. 7 Lieder.
48. Serenade for String-Orchestra.
49. '1812,' Ouverture solennelle for Orchestra.
50. Trio for PF., Violin, and Violoncello in A minor.
51. 6 Morceaux. PF. solo.
52. Vesper service, 4 voices.
53. Suite for Orchestra, No. 2.
54. 16 Kinderlieder.
55. Suite for Orchestra No. 3.
56. Fantaisie, PF. and Orch.
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| Operas and Ballets:—
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1. Voievode. Represented 1869.
2. Opritschnik. Represented 1874.
3. Wakula the Smith. 1876.
4. Schwanensee. Ballet.
5. Snegourotska. Drama with Incidental Music.
6. Eugeny Onegin.
7. The Maid of Orleans. 1881.
8. Mazeppa. 1884.
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| Works without opus number:—
|
|
Overture to Romeo and Juliet.
50 Russian Volksmelodien, arranged for PF. 4 hands.
'Die Jahreszeiten,' 12 PF. pieces.
Weber's Perpetuum mobile, for left hand only.
Coronation march for Orch.
Coronation Cantata, soli, chorus and Orch.
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| Literary works:—
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Harmonie-Lehre.
Do. for Schools.
Gevaert's Instrumentations-Lehre, translated and edited.
Lobe's Catechism, etc., translated into Russian.
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| App. p.804 "to list of works add:—
|
| Op. |
58. Symphony, 'Nach Byron's Manfred.'
61. 'Mozartiana,' movements from Mozart arranged for orchestra.
62. Pezzo capriccioso for vcello. and orchestra.
64. Symphony, No. 5.
Operas and Ballets:—
9. Tscharodeika (The Charmer). Nov. 13, 1887.
Works without opus number:—
Die Tochter des Hauptmann.
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