Biography Of Pyotr Peter Tchaikovsky
Gwendolyn Richmond
Music Appreciation 110
November 11, 2014
Large Paper
Pyotr ‘Peter’ Tchaikovsky Peter Tchaikovsky was one of the Great Russian composers of the Romantic Period and he created many musical masterpieces. Born in May of 1840, he was fascinated with music as young as five years old. His parents supported his dream but eventually directed him into the government. At ten years old, he studied at the School of Jurisprudence after he and his family relocated to St. Petersburg. When he was only fourteen his mother passed away and he decided to honor both of his parents’ wishes by taking a bureau clerk position at the Ministry of Justice. Tchaikovsky was twenty one when he began studing music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He …show more content…
He wrote musical pieces for vocal ensembles and orchestral works as well. Peter wrote his best work for the ballet. Some of those ballets were Swan Lake (1876), Sleeping Beauty (1889) and one of his most famous ballets, The Nutcracker (1892). Along with ballets, Tchaikovsky composed operas and orchestral pieces. His music was well known for having stunning melody lines and showing great emotion. He would write for all the voices and/or instruments to build to the powerful climaxes. “One thing Peter Tchaikovsky was good at was using Russian melodies and sounds, but presenting them in a sophisticated way that audiences from Western Europe appreciate without having to cover their ears,” (Sebastian). Many things influenced his work from French, Italian, and German elements to the dramatic events that plagued him throughout his …show more content…
In 1869, when he was only twenty nine Tchaikovsky composed Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky worked hard to capture the message of passion that was presented through Shakespeare’s play. He captured all the emotions and themes of the play and even down to the actions of the characters. Romeo and Juliet was an overture that he wrote with slow beginning and eventually a speedy sonata as to mimick the conflicts in the story. The music was used effectively to show the hatred between the families, the clashing of swords during fighting scenes and the deep passionate love Romeo and Juliet had for each other. Now a great memorable piece, it took many revisions arrive at the standing that it is at now. The 1870 premiere was regarded as a ‘failure’ as no one spoke during the dinner that followed. ‘”After the concert we dined….No one said a single word to me about the overture the whole evening. And yet I yearned so for appreciation and kindness.”’(Kamien) This feeling of Tchaikovsky’s led to three revisions of the piece before becoming final and performed in
Music Appreciation 110
November 11, 2014
Large Paper
Pyotr ‘Peter’ Tchaikovsky Peter Tchaikovsky was one of the Great Russian composers of the Romantic Period and he created many musical masterpieces. Born in May of 1840, he was fascinated with music as young as five years old. His parents supported his dream but eventually directed him into the government. At ten years old, he studied at the School of Jurisprudence after he and his family relocated to St. Petersburg. When he was only fourteen his mother passed away and he decided to honor both of his parents’ wishes by taking a bureau clerk position at the Ministry of Justice. Tchaikovsky was twenty one when he began studing music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He …show more content…
He wrote musical pieces for vocal ensembles and orchestral works as well. Peter wrote his best work for the ballet. Some of those ballets were Swan Lake (1876), Sleeping Beauty (1889) and one of his most famous ballets, The Nutcracker (1892). Along with ballets, Tchaikovsky composed operas and orchestral pieces. His music was well known for having stunning melody lines and showing great emotion. He would write for all the voices and/or instruments to build to the powerful climaxes. “One thing Peter Tchaikovsky was good at was using Russian melodies and sounds, but presenting them in a sophisticated way that audiences from Western Europe appreciate without having to cover their ears,” (Sebastian). Many things influenced his work from French, Italian, and German elements to the dramatic events that plagued him throughout his …show more content…
In 1869, when he was only twenty nine Tchaikovsky composed Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky worked hard to capture the message of passion that was presented through Shakespeare’s play. He captured all the emotions and themes of the play and even down to the actions of the characters. Romeo and Juliet was an overture that he wrote with slow beginning and eventually a speedy sonata as to mimick the conflicts in the story. The music was used effectively to show the hatred between the families, the clashing of swords during fighting scenes and the deep passionate love Romeo and Juliet had for each other. Now a great memorable piece, it took many revisions arrive at the standing that it is at now. The 1870 premiere was regarded as a ‘failure’ as no one spoke during the dinner that followed. ‘”After the concert we dined….No one said a single word to me about the overture the whole evening. And yet I yearned so for appreciation and kindness.”’(Kamien) This feeling of Tchaikovsky’s led to three revisions of the piece before becoming final and performed in