|
Tchaikovsky |
Aleksandra DavydovaAleksandra Il'inichna Davydova (Апександра Ильинична Давыдова) was the composer's younger sister (known to him as Sasha), born Aleksandra Tchaikovskaia (Апександра Ильинична Чайковская) on 28 December 1841/9 January 1842 at Votkinsk, near Viatka. She was the fourth child of Il'ia Tchaikovsky and his wife Aleksandra (b. Assier). On 6/18 November 1860 she married Lev Davydov (1837-1896), and they had seven children: Tat'iana (1861-1887); Vera (1863-1888); Anna (1864-1942); Natal'ia (1868-1956); Dmitrii (1870-1929); Vladimir (1871-1906); and Iurii (1876-1965). Tchaikovsky spent a great deal of time with the Davydov family on their estates at Kamenka and Brailov, where many of his works were composed. Tchaikovsky's Valse-scherzo for piano, Op. 7 (1870) is dedicated to Aleksandra. Aleksandra Davydova died on 28 March/9 April 1891 at Kamenka, following a long period of ill health. She was buried next to her daughter Tat'iana in the cemetery at the Aleksandr Nevskii Monastery in Saint Petersburg, although neither grave site has survived. |