Hello. My name is Jungsoo Kim and I'm a high school student who is
trying to write research paper on Tchaikovsky.
I'm trying to write about that Tchaikvosky was influenced by Russian
culture and society(apparently since he is Russian), and His compositions
therefore reflect Russian culture and society.
So far, I got Symphony
No.6, 1812 Overture
and March Slav for my
examples.
And I'm trying to find other examples.
Please help me.
Jungsoo Kim
Dear Jungsoo Kim,
Try analyzing Tchaikovsky's the fourth movement of T's fourth symphony;
there's a folk song melody that he uses in the woodwinds - it appears for
the first time after the burst of excitement in the intro of the finale.
Hope this little tidbit helps,
Michael Svoboda
Hello Jungsoo Kim
The influence of Russian culture on Tchaikovsky is manifold...
- As for example his early "Festival Overture on the Danish National
Anthem.... commissioned for the Tzarevich's marriage to a Danish
princess...
- His incidental music to The Snow Maiden....a Russian fairytale...and
also a play by Ostrovski...features a good dose of Russian like folk
song element...
- The operas Vakula revised later to The Slippers has many Russian
folk like themes resounding through it and it is based on a story by
Gogol...
- ..The main theme (not the introduction) of the First Piano Concerto
is based on a Russian folk song ....the main theme from that concerto's
final movement has a distinctive Russian dance like quality....
- the finale of his Violin Concerto has a Russian dance flavor...
- his Second Symphony "The Little Russian" utilizes Ukrainian folk
songs...
- the finale from his Fourth Symphony of course..
- the Marche Slav which also includes the Russan national anthem...
- his First String Quartet features in the Andante Cantabile a folk
song Tchaikovsky had heard in the Ukraine....
- the Finale of his Second Suite which ends with a Russian dance...
- his piano piece "Dumka" which represents a Russian village scene...
- various of his operas are based on Russian works...his first ..the
Voevoda...based on a drama by Ostrovski..his third "The
Oprichnik",.....Eugene Oniegen, Mazeppa and Queen of Spades all based on
the works of Pushkin....the opera The Enchantress based on a Russian
drama....as he grew older the impact of the strictly Russian element
lessened in his music....still in The Nutcracker you have the Russian
Dance.....and a Trepak in the 18 piano pieces of 1893...
...and so Jungsoo Kim....I hope this helps answer your question...
Regards,
Albert Gasparo