3rd Symphony (Tchaikovsky)

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Peter Tchaikovsky, photograph of unknown date

The Symphony No. 3 in D major op. 29 (“Polish”) is a symphony by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky . The nickname is based on the polonaise used in the final movement .

Emergence

The symphony was composed in 1875 shortly after Tchaikovsky 's first piano concerto and the ballet Swan Lake .

To the music

Orchestral line-up

Piccolo flute , two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four French horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , string instruments .

Sentence names

  1. Introduzione e Allegro
  2. Alla tedesca. Allegro moderato
  3. Andante elegiaco
  4. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
  5. Final. Allegro con fuoco

analysis

The frequently raised point of criticism that Tchaikovsky's symphonies have the character of suites is most likely to apply to the third symphony. In Tchaikovsky's oeuvre it is the only symphony that has five movements and is in a major key.

The first movement, in sonata form , is introduced by a funeral march and merges into a lively main theme and a poetic secondary theme; it also contains contrapuntal elements. In the dance-like second movement, Länder's and waltz rhythms alternate. The idyllic third movement is reminiscent of Ludwig van Beethoven's sixth symphony , the “Pastorale”. In the fourth movement there are march-like rhythms. Contains the energetic fifth set as the opening movement, contrapuntal elements and is a fugati containing Polonaise terminated by the symphony got its nickname "Polish".

effect

The first performance of the symphony took place on November 7, 1875 in Moscow; As with Tchaikovsky's Second Symphony , Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein , who was a friend of the composer, stood at the conductor's podium.

In the following year, the Russian critic Laroche described the work as the greatest musical event of the decade. Nevertheless, like Tchaikovsky's First Symphony and Second Symphony , it is overshadowed by the success of the “three greats”, namely the fourth symphony , fifth symphony and sixth symphony .

Despite the success of the third symphony with the audience, Tchaikovsky herself criticized its lack of creative ideas.

supporting documents

  • Christoph Hahn, Siegmar Hohl (eds.), Bertelsmann Konzertführer , Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, Gütersloh / Munich 1993, ISBN 3-570-10519-9
  • Harenberg concert guide , Harenberg Kommunikation, Dortmund, 1998, ISBN 3-611-00535-5
  • Booklet of the double CD Tchaikovsky - Symphonies Nos. 1-3 , Philips Classics, 1995

Web links