Tchaikovsky Research : Dmitrii the Pretender and Vasilii Shuiskii (TH 16)

Catalogue References	TH 16 ; ČW 17 (as "Introduction and Mazurka to A.N. Ostrovskij's dramatic chronicle Dmitrij the Pretender and Vasilij Šujskij")
Date	January 1867
Key	A minor
Tempo/Section Listing	Andante non troppo (A minor, 60 bars)
Instrumentation	Flute, Oboe, 2 Clarinets (B♭), 2 Bassoons + 2 Horns (F), Trumpet (D), Trombone + 2 Timpani, Cymbals + Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
First Performance	Moscow, Malyi Theatre, 30 January/11 February 1867
Autograph Location	Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky House-Museum Archive (a1, No. 47)
First Publication	Moscow: Muzgiz, 1955 [1]
Average Duration	3 minutes
Notes	Dmitry the Pretender and Vasilii Shuiskii (Дмитрий Самозванец и Василий Шуйский) was a 'dramatic chronicle in two parts' (and six scenes) written in 1866 by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Ostrovskii (1823–1866). A study score is available for this work
External Links	IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library (downloadable score)

Mazurka (Мазурка):

Catalogue References	TH 16 ; ČW 17 (full score), ČW 341 (arrangement for solo piano)
Date	January 1867
Key	D minor
Tempo/Section Listing	[Tempo giusto] (D minor, 133 bars)
Instrumentation	Flute, Oboe, 2 Clarinets (B♭), 2 Bassoons + 2 Horns (F), Trumpet (D), Trombone + 2 Timpani + Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
Arrangements	Also arranged for solo piano by Tchaikovsky (ČW 341), 15/27 June 1867
First Performance	Moscow, Malyi Theatre, 30 January/11 February 1867
Autograph Location	Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky House-Museum Archive (a1, No. 47) — full score Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky House-Museum Archive (lr, No. 1) — arrangement for solo piano
First Publication	Moscow: Muzgiz, 1962 (full score) Moscow, 1986 (arrangement for solo piano)
Average Duration	3 minutes
Notes	The Mazurka is performed in Scene 5 of the play Tchaikovsky later reworked the Mazurka for solo piano as the Mazurka de salon—No. 2 of the Three Pieces, Op. 9 (1870)
External Links	IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library (downloadable score)

History

Presumably this music was composed by Tchaikovsky in connection with a production of Aleksandr Ostrovskii's dramatic chronicle Dmitrii the Pretender and Vasilii Shuiskii, which premiered on 30 January/11 February 1867 on the stage of the Malyi Theatre in Moscow. Only two numbers were written, for small symphony orchestra: Introduction to Act I, and Mazurka.

The manuscript of a piano arrangement of the Mazurka carries the author’s date: "1867. Hapsal. 15 June" [O.S.].

The dramatic chronicle Dmitrii the Pretender and Vasilii Shuiskii ran frequently at the Malyi Theatre during the 1866/67 season, and also in the following seasons. It appears that Tchaikovsky's music was performed, since the orchestral parts for both pieces, preserved in the archive of the Malyi Theatre Library, contain pencil notes indicating that they were used in performance.

The book Contemporary Tales of Dmitrii the Pretender [2] is to be found in Tchaikovsky’s library. Notes on both volumes indicate that Tchaikovsky took a particular interest in them, and was familiar with the tale when he wrote the music. It seems likely that the composer studied this before composing his music for the chronicle.

In the Introduction, Tchaikovsky used the theme and first variation from his student piano work, Theme with Variations.

In 1871, Tchaikovsky reworked the Mazurka for piano as Mazurka de salon—No. 2 of the Three Pieces, Op. 9.

Dmitrii the Pretender and Vasilii Shuiskii

Дмитрий Самозванец и Василий Шуйский

Introduction to Act I (Интродукция к 1 действию):

Mazurka (Мазурка):

History

Notes: