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Two Songs

Две песни

With piano accompaniment (1875).

No. 1. I Should Like in a Single Word (Хотел бы в единое слово)
Catalogue References TH 100 ; ČW 244
Date April–May 1875
Text Lev Aleksandrovich Mei (1822–1862), from an untitled poem (1859) — a translation from the German poem Ich wollt', meine Schmerzen ergössen, from the cycle Die Heimkehr (1824) by Heinrich Heine (1797–1856)
Language Russian
Key D minor
Tempo/Section Listing Allegro moderato (D minor, 49 bars)
Instrumentation High voice + Piano
Autograph Location Moscow (Russia): Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture (ф. 88, No. 134)
First Publication Saint Petersburg: M. Bernard, 1876
Average Duration 2 minutes
External Links IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library (downloadable score)
The Lied and Art Songs Text Page (text and translations)
No. 2. We Have Not Far to Walk (Не долго нам гулять)
Catalogue References TH 100 ; ČW 245
Date April–May 1875
Text Nikolai Porfir'evich Grekov (1807–1866), from an untitled poem (by 1860)
Language Russian
Key E major
Instrumentation Medium voice + Piano
Autograph Location Moscow (Russia): Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture (ф. 88, No. 135)
First Publication Saint Petersburg: M. Bernard, 1876
Average Duration 3 minutes
External Links IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library (downloadable score)
The Lied and Art Songs Text Page (text and translations)

History

Both songs were apparently composed in Moscow, by 3/15 May 1875, on which Tchaikovsky asked Petr Jurgenson "to send to the two romances to Mr Bernard's business address at the earliest opportunity" [1].

The songs were first printed in separate editions of the journal Nuvellist in September 1875 and February 1876 respectively [2]. They were independently reprinted by Nikolai Bernard in February 1876, and by Petr Jurgenson in 1885 [3].

From: Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), pp. 443–444
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston


Notes:
  1. Letter 399 to Petr Jurgenson, 3/15 May 1875 [back]
  2. Both songs were passed by the censor on 28 June/10 July 1875 [back]
  3. Passed by the censor on 3/15 September 1885 [back]

This page was last updated on 23 May 2011