Tchaikovsky
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The Voyevoda
(Воевода)
Music for the Domovoy's monologue in Aleksandr Ostrovsky's play (1886).
| Catalogue References | TH 22 (as "The Voevoda") ; ČW 20 (as "Music of the House-Spirit's Monologue to A.N. Ostrovskij's comedy The Voyevoda") |
|---|---|
| Date | January 1886 |
| Key | G minor |
| Tempo/Section Listing | Andante non troppo (G minor, 45 bars) |
| Instrumentation | 2 Flutes, Oboe, Clarinet (B♭), Bassoon + Harp, Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses |
| First Performance | Moscow, Maly Theatre, 19/31 January 1886 |
| Autograph Location | Moscow (Russia): Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (ф. 905, No. 3) |
| First Publication | Moscow: Muzgiz, 1962 |
| Average Duration | 6 minutes |
| Notes | Written to accompany a performance of Aleksandr Ostrovsky's
play The Voyevoda. Scenes from 17th-Century Peasant Life (1886),
which in its earlier incarnation as Dream on the
Volga (Сон на Волге) (1865) served as the basis for Tchaikovsky's
first opera The Voyevoda
(1867–68), although there is no musical connection between these works,
or with the later symphonic ballad of the same name on a poem by Mickiewicz
(see TH 54). A Study Score is available for this work |
| External Links |
IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library
(downloadable score) |
History
In a letter of 6/18 January 1886, Ippolit Shpazhinsky communicated to Tchaikovsky a request from Aleksandr Ostrovsky, to write music for the Domovoy’s monologue in the revised version of his play The Voyevoda (1885), "which has some delightful verses. These verses should of course be set to quiet music in the orchestra, which should depict the sounds of night" [1]. Tchaikovsky responded favourably and immediately began composition, as is indicated by the themes noted down on Shpazhinsky’s letter. The production was scheduled for 12/24 January, but was postponed until 19/31 January 1886, on the stage of the Maly Theatre in Moscow (a benefit performance for the artist Konstantin Rybakov). Tchaikovsky composed the music for the Domovoy Scene between 13/25–17/29 January at Maydanovo [2].
Aleksandr Ostrovsky commissioned the remaining musical numbers for the piece from his friend, the composer Vladimir Kashperov.
The Scenes of Peasant Life in the 17th Century were heard only once with Tchaikovsky's music—on 19/31 January, at Konstantin Rybakov’s benefit—and then the music to the melodrama was performed no more.
From:
Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), p. 200
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston
Notes:
- Letter from Ippolit Shpazhinsky to Tchaikovsky, 6/18 January 1886 — Russian State Archive for Literature and the Arts; see also letter from Ippolit Shpazhinsky to Tchaikovsky, 7/19 January 1886 — Klin House-Museum Archive [back]
- See letter 2852 to Nadezhda von Meck, 13/25 January 1886, and letter from Ippolit Shpazhinsky to Tchaikovsky, 17/29 January 1886 — Klin House-Museum Archive [back]