1st Symphony (Tchaikovsky)

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Tchaikovsky's first symphony is entitled "Winter Dreams" ( Russian Зимние грёзы , scientific transliteration Zimnie grjozy ), is in the key of G minor and has the opus number 13. It was written in 1866.

To the music

instrumentation

Two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , timpani , strings

only in the finale: piccolo , three trombones , bass tuba , cymbals , bass drum

Sentence names

  1. Allegro tranquillo
  2. Adagio cantabile, ma non tanto
  3. Allegro scherzando giocoso
  4. Andante lugubre - Allegro moderato - Allegro maestoso

analysis

First sentence

2/4 time, sonata form , key: G minor, heading: Dream of a Winter Journey

As the only one of Tchaikovsky's six numbered symphonies, the first does not begin with a slow introduction, but rather the exposition begins immediately. The solo flute and solo bassoon present the melancholy main theme with a double octave spacing over a tremolo background of violins. It is picked up by violas and low strings and soon reaches a climax. The following secondary theme of the solo clarinet (D major) is motifically related to the main theme. A third radiant theme in the sheet metal closes the exposition. The implementation mainly deals with the development of the main topic in several waves of increase. The return to the recapitulation above an organ point of the winds is particularly artistic in this early symphony. In his 6th Symphony Tchaikovsky will use a similar procedure, albeit in a much more dramatic manner. The recapitulation itself is regular. A short coda ends the formally rounded sentence.

Second sentence

4/4 time, seven-part form (ABCBCBA), key: E flat major, heading: Land of Wastes, Land of Fog

A gentle theme of the muted strings (A) frames the movement. The actual main theme is a longing oboe melody (B-flat), which constantly fluctuates between major and minor. The motif of the third theme of the movement (C), which sounds in the violas, is related to this melody. The climax of the Adagio is the last return of the B-theme in the horns, before the resumption of the string theme (A) lets the movement end calmly.

Third sentence

3/8 time, Scherzo form, key: C minor

Tchaikovsky took the corner parts of the Scherzo largely unchanged from his Piano Sonata in C sharp minor. As a trio middle section he composed his first orchestral waltz, the theme of which is repeated in the coda as a minor variant over a timpani rhythm. Two violent tutti blows end the dream.

Fourth sentence

2/2 time, sonata main movement form (with slow introduction), key: G minor / G major

The last movement begins with a somber minor introduction. Soon, however, the tempo accelerates and the cheerful, distinctive G major main theme sounds in the full orchestra. Tchaikovsky uses the melody from the introduction as a secondary theme. All in all, this movement already shows the composer's preference for effectively storming, sometimes noisy finals.

effect

The symphony was first performed in full on February 3, 1868 under the direction of Nikolai Rubinstein . The musician Hans von Bülow praised the symphony, as did later Tchaikovsky's second symphony , its richness of melodies. Nevertheless, the Russian composer's first three symphonies are overshadowed by the success of Tchaikovsky's “Three Greats”, namely the fourth , fifth and sixth symphonies .

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