Tchaikovsky Research : Italian Capriccio, Op. 45 (TH 47)

Catalogue References:	TH 47 ; ČW 44.
Date:	January–May 1880.
Key:	A major.
Tempo/Section Listing:	Andante un poco rubato—Pochissimo più mosso—Allegro moderato (A major, 633 bars).
Instrumentation:	Piccolo, 3 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, 2 Clarinets (A), 2 Bassoons + 4 Horns (F), 2 Cornets (A), 2 Trumpets (E), 3 Trombones, Tuba + Timpani, Triangle, Tambourine, Cymbals, Bass Drum, Glockenspiel + Harp, Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses.
Arrangements:	Also arranged for piano duet (4 hands) by Tchaikovsky, May 1880.
First Performance:	Moscow, 6/18 December 1880, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein.
Autograph Location:	Moscow: Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture (full score and arrangement for piano duet).
First Publication:	Moscow: P. Jurgenson, 1880 (full score and arrangement for piano duet).
Average Duration:	16 minutes.
Dedication:	Karl Iul'evich Davydov (1838–1889).
External Links:	Internet Music Score Library Project (downloadable score). Wikipedia (article).

History

The earliest reference to the composer’s intended new work occurs in a letter of 4/16 January 1880 to Sergei Taneev: "I want to write an Italian suite on folk melodies" [1]. By 16/28 January, he had already begun to compose the fantasia (as it was then styled), as the composer wrote to Nadezhda von Meck: "I have begun to make sketches for an Italian Fantasia on folk themes. I want to write something in the manner of Glinka’s Spanish Fantasia" [2].

On 24 January/5 February 1880, Tchaikovsky told Nadhezda von Meck: "All the same, I have worked successfully over the recent days, and I have already prepared in rough my Italian Fantasia on folk themes, which it seems to me, might be predicted to have a good future. It will be effective, thanks to its delightful tunes, some which were chosen from collections, and some of which I heard myself on the streets" [3]. In this same letter Tchaikovsky provided a detailed account of a Roman carnival, at the height of which he created the Italian Fantasia on folk tunes. According to Modest Tchaikovsky, the theme of the opening fanfare was a signal used at a cavalry barracks, which the composer heard through his window every day while staying at the Hôtel Constanzi [4].

The composer was very pleased with his new work, as is evident from his letters to his family and friends. For example, he wrote to Anatolii Tchaikovsky on 31 January/12 February 1880: "I have composed such a sweet little Italian Fantasia for orchestra—delightful!" [5].

Returning from abroad, at Kamenka Tchaikovsky set about the instrumentation of the Italian Fantasia. In a letter of 3/15 May, he asked Petr Jurgenson to send him a metronome: "The Italian Fantasia (which I am scoring) cannot be issued without metronome markings" [6].

From time to time the composer reported on the orchestration of the work to Anatolii Tchaikovsky [7]. On completing it, Tchaikovsky wrote to Nadhezda von Meck on 12/24 May: "I have only just finished scoring the Italian Fantasia... Now I shall start arranging it... for four hands" [8]. Two days earlier, Tchaikovsky told Petr Jurgenson that he had decided to make his own arrangement for piano duet, for fear that it would be held up if this task were entrusted to Sergei Taneev. The composer wanted the Fantasia to be played in the next concert season [9]. Evidently, after completing the full score, the composer reviewed it and inserted the metronome marks, since the date at the end of the manuscript is "(Rome–Kamenka) 15 May 1880" [O.S.].

The title Capriccio (instead of Fantasia) appears for the first time in a letter from Tchaikovsky to Petr Jurgenson of 16/28 May 1880, in which he reports that he has completed its arrangement for piano duet [10]. On 22 May/3 June, Tchaikovsky sent Jurgenson the full score and arrangement to be published [11]. In mid/late August the first proofs were ready [12].

In reply to a letter from Eduard Nápravník (now lost), apparently written in early/mid September, in which Nápravník wrote that he would like to perform the Italian Capriccio in Saint Petersburg, Tchaikovsky reported: "The arrangement of the Italian Capriccio for piano duet is now ready, and the full score and orchestral parts should be ready by 1st November [O.S.]; at least, that’s what I was promised by Jurgenson, to whom I am writing that you wish to perform the thing, and would like precise news of when it will be ready" [13].

In September 1880 the piano duet arrangement of the Italian Capriccio appeared in print, and in November the same year—the full score and orchestral parts. Petr Jurgenson also published two arrangements of the Italian Capriccio made by Eduard Langer, for piano duet (March 1884), and for two pianos and eight hands (April 1898), as well as an arrangement by Henryk Pachulski for piano, two hands (October 1899).

The first performance of the Italian Capriccio took place on 6/18 December 1880 in Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein, in the seventh concert of the Russian Musical Society. In Saint Petersburg it was performed for the first time on 26 December 1880/7 January 1881 the same year, in a concert given by artists of the Saint Petersburg Russian Opera in the Mariinskii Theatre, conducted by Eduard Nápravník.

Italian Capriccio

Итальяанское каприччио

History

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