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Music 1010

Music 1010. Semester Presentation by Sarah Caverni. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky . The life and music of an amazing Composer. Tchaikovsky’s Early Life. Born on May 7 th , 1840. Of French and Ukrainian descent. His mother was 18 years younger than his father.

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Music 1010

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  1. Music 1010 Semester Presentation by Sarah Caverni

  2. PyotrIlyich Tchaikovsky The life and music of an amazing Composer

  3. Tchaikovsky’s Early Life Born on May 7th, 1840. Of French and Ukrainian descent. His mother was 18 years younger than his father. Tchaikovsky had one sister, four brothers and a half-sister.

  4. The discovery of his talent Started piano lessons at the age of five. Able to read music as well as teacher by the age of eight. Parents were supportive of his music in the beginning.

  5. First Serious Composition Attempt • Both parents contracted cholera in 1854. • Mother passed away from the illness. • Tchaikovsky wrote a waltz in his mother’s honor.

  6. Marriage and Sexuality • Married AntoninaMiliukova in 1877. • Never officially divorced but the marriage only lasted a few months. • After an emotional breakdown he became more accepting of his sexuality. • He never openly admitted to being homosexual.

  7. Von Meck’s Help After hearing Tchaikovsky’s work, a wealthy Russian widow decided to pay him 6,000 rubles annually to focus on his career. Her condition to do so was that they were to never meet face-to-face. Meck’s help allowed the author to focus on his music.

  8. Composing Years • Constantly moving between 1878 and 1884. • With the help of Tsar Alexander III, he was able to achieve “social rehabilitation” after the emotional breakdown that followed the separation. • In 1885 the Third Orchestral Suite premiered with extreme success.

  9. Composer’s death • Tchaikovsky died on October 28th, 1893. • He was only 53 years old at the time. • Had more accomplishments in his short life than his fellow Russian composers of the Era. • Officially died from Cholera. • Many still believe that he took his own life because of his homosexuality.

  10. Compositions • Over 100 works not including the piano ones. • Romeo and Juliet. • 1812 Overture. • The Nutcracker. • Swan Lake. • Etc.

  11. 1812 Overture Learning History Through a Symphony

  12. Based on the overture of the French Army by Russia in 1812. Neither side won, however Russia drove the French out of its land. Over 100,000 are estimated to have died.

  13. The Composition Process • Tchaikovsky finished the piece in just six weeks. • Commemorative piece for the 25th anniversary of coronation of Alexander II. • Written based on the suggestion of his friend, Nikolai Rubinstein.

  14. First Performance • Initial performance was supposed to have church bells and live cannon being fired on demand for precision. • Since Alexander II was murdered in March of 1882, the piece was performed indoors instead by a conventional orchestra. • Tchaikovsky did not like this piece and claimed to have written it “without love”.

  15. National Anthems • The piece uses parts of the French national anthem: La Marseillaise. • Also uses parts of “God Save the Tsar!” which was the Russian national anthem at the time.

  16. The U.S. and the 1812 Overture piece • In 1891 Tchaikovsky himself conducted the 1812 Overture in New York City. • This piece is often played at Fourth of July celebrations. • Many wrongfully think that the song is about America’s battles against the British.

  17. Listening Guide (1812 Overture)

  18. 0:00 Introduction begins in E flat major. 1:20 Wind instruments enter. 1:54 Transition to C minor. 2:00 Oboe solo, accompanied by strings. Tempo picks up a little giving the song more life. 2:20 Flute joins oboe in solo creating a bigger presence in response to the strings. Adagio. 2:26 Bassoon also joins the solo phrases. 2:44 Solo ends. Song gradually gets faster and at this point it has a very high pitch. The timbre also becomes more distinguishable. 3:19 Bassoon, cello, bass transition back to E flat major.

  19. 3:55 Strings join snare drums. 4:44 New section begins and violin enters with melody in E flat minor. 5:11 Oboe and clarinet join in creating a better harmony between the orchestra. The timbre gets higher. 5:27 French horn starts Theme 2. 5:33 Theme 2 switches to cornet. 5:40 Theme 2 switches back to French horn. 5:46 Theme 2 switches to trumpet. 5:52 Theme 2 ends, section F begins by transitioning to E flat minor.

  20. 6:17 Theme 2 starts again. 6:43Strings with melody in F# major. 7:39 Flute, oboe, clarinet join with melody 8:08 Transition to D# minor 8:23 Flute and English horn with melody in E flat minor while tambourines accompany. 8:42 Leitmotifs are played by oboe, clarinet, bassoon, viola, and cello. Decrescendo to piano. 9:00 Section J begins in A minor 9:11 Parts of Theme 2 return 9:37 Bass drum and cymbals enter, fortissimo 10:14 Section G repeats in G flat major with Theme 2. 10:40 Section H repeats in E flat major 11:28 Section I repeats in C minor 11:47 Section K begins in E flat major. 12:32 Section M starts in E flat major 12:39 Song slowly slows down and time signature switches to ¾. 13:12 Section A repeats, but much stronger and louder, phrases are interrupted by string runs, includes military band. 14:21 Finale begins in E flat major in 4/4 with a stronger dynamic ffff. Theme 1, allegro vivace, firing of the cannons begins. 14:32 Low brass switches to harmony, Theme 1 played again. 15:01 Partial phrases from Theme 1 return even stronger. 15:21 Song ends.

  21. Works Cited • Brown, David, ed. Stanley Sadie, "Tchaikovsky, PyotrIlyich", The New Grove Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians (London: MacMillan, 1980), 20 vols. ISBN 0-333-23111-2. • Brown, David, Tchaikovsky: The Early Years, 1840–1874 (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1978). ISBN 0-393-07535-2. • Brown, David, Tchaikovsky: The Crisis Years, 1874–1878, (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1983). ISBN 0-393-01707-9. • Brown, David, Tchaikovsky: The Years of Wandering, 1878–1885, (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1986). ISBN 0-393-02311-7. • Brown, David, Tchaikovsky: The Final Years, 1885–1893, (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1991). ISBN 0-393-03099-7. • Brown, David, Tchaikovsky: The Man and His Music (New York: Pegasus Books, 2007).ISBN 0-571-23194-2.

  22. Works Cited • Holden, Anthony, Tchaikovsky: A Biography (New York: Random House, 1995). ISBN 0-679-42006-1. • Poznansky, Alexander Tchaikovsky: The Quest for the Inner Man (New York: Schirmer Books, 1991). ISBN 0-02-871885-2. • Poznansky, Alexander. Tchaikovsky through others' eyes. (Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press, 1999). ISBN 0-253-33545-0. • Online Photo Galleries

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