Brett: Text replacement - "Mme" to "Madame"

2020-02-20T16:39:45Z

Text replacement - "Mme" to "Madame"

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{{Diarybox}}
Tchaikovsky's '''[[Diary No. 3]]''' covers his stay at his sister [[Aleksandra Davydova|Aleksandra]]'s residence at [[Kamenka]] in the Ukraine, where he had arrived on 12/24 April 1884, accompanied by his valet [[Aleksey Sofronov]] ("Alyosha").

[[Aleksandra Davydova|Aleksandra]], known to the composer as "[[Sasha]]", and her husband [[Lev Davydov]] (1837-1896), had three daughters: [[Tatyana Davydova|Tatyana]] ("Tanya", aged 22), [[Vera Rimskaya-Korsakova|Vera]] (aged 21), [[Anna von Meck|Anna]] (aged 19), [[Natalya Rimskaya-Korsakova|Natalya]] ("Tasya", aged 15), and three sons: [[Dmitry Davydov|Dmity]] ("Mitka", aged 13), [[Vladimir Davydov|Vladimir]] ("Bob", aged 12), [[Yury Davydov|Yury]] ("Uka", aged 7).

Also living at [[Kamenka]] were [[Lev]]'s mother, Aleksandra Ivanovna Davydova (née Potapova; 1802-1895) and her unmarried daughters, Aleksandra Vasilyevna (1825-1917) and Yelizaveta Vasilyevna ("Lizaveta", 1823-1904)—collectively known by Tchaikovsky as the "old ladies", as well as numerous relatives and friends.

The last entry in the diay was made on 9/21 June, the day after Tchaikovsky left [[Kamenka]] for the city of [[Kharkov]].

==Text and Translation==
The following diary entries were first published in {{bib|1923/23|Дневники П. И. Чайковского (1873-1891)}} (1923), p. 27-29, edited and with notes by the composer's brother [[Ippolit]]. They were also translated into English by Wladimir Lakond in {{bib|1945/34|The Diaries of Tchaikovsky}} (1945), p. 42-44, and into German by Ernst Kuhn and Hans-Joachim Grimm in {{bib|1992/51|P. I. Tschaikowsky. Die Tagebücher}} (1992), p. 29-31.

The new English translation and detailed commentary published here for the first time was prepared by ''Philip Taylor, Alexander Poznansky'' and ''Brett Langston'', with reference to the original texts preserved in the Tchaikovsky House-Museum at [[Klin]], and corrects some errors in previous editions.

-----
=====Friday 1/13 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''1 июня''. Великолепная погода. Большая прогулка к Пляковским буракам. Писал переложение финала. После обеда ''ощущение'' стало проходить. Поездка в Вербовку, чрезвычайно приятная. Собачка, упорно за нами следовавшая. Из Лебедовки с Бобом, Гришей, Укой пешком. Чай. Лошади. Прыгание у кирпичного завода и на дворе. Дорогой рассказы Наты о своих страхах. За ужином узнаю, что Блум[енфельд] вызывает зачем-то Вл[адимира] Андр[еевича]. Страшное, безумное волнение, особенно когда Лёва поручил звать его. Едва доиграл два робера.
|Translated text=''1 June''. Superb weather. Long walk to the Plyakov beetroot fields. Writing the arrangement of the finale. After lunch the ''sensation'' started to pass <ref name="note1"/>. Had an extremely pleasant trip to [[Verbovka]]. A little dog chased behind us stubbornly. On foot from Lebyodovka with [[Bob]], Grisha <ref name="note2"/> and [[Uka]]. Tea. Horses. Jumping around the brick works and in the yard. On the road [[Nata]] <ref name="note3"/> told of her fears. At supper I heard that Blum[enfeld] <ref name="note4"/> is summoning Vladimir Andreyevich <ref name="note5"/> for some reason. Dreadful, frenzied agitation, especially when [[Lev]] gave instructions for him to be called. Scarcely managed to play two rubbers.
}}

=====Saturday 2/14 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''2 июня''. Прогулка все на Пляковские бураки через Смел[янскую] дор[огу]. Писал переложение финала. После обеда с мальчиками заходил в большой [дом] Ал[ександры] Ив[ановны], потом участвовал в игре в городки со всей компанией мальчиков и менторов, потом на ''Pas de géants'' веселая беготня была. Чай дома (вдвоем с Сестрицей; Саша и Вера Вас[ильевна] книгами были заняты). Рассказы ''Сестрицы'' о её молодости, родителях, сватовстве и т. д. Писал письма и занимался английским. Неудачная попытка попасть к всенощной в Покр[овскую] церковь, зато приятная прогулка за церковь. Телеграмма от Модеста, обеспокоившая меня. После ужина сидел с Бобом в кабинете и про учебные дела беседовал. Винт. Не везло; не злился, но холодный пот прошибал. ''Ощущение'' немножко было, но теперь я не боюсь врага, ибо знаю его; это все тот же желудок.
|Translated text=''2 June''. A walk to the same Plyakov beetroot fields via the Smelyansky road. Writing the arrangement of the finale <ref name="note6"/>. After lunch with the boys I called at the big house to see Aleksandra Ivanovna, then played gorodki <ref name="note7"/> with the entire band of boys and teachers, then some jovial running about the ''Pas de géants''. Tea at home (alone with Sestritsa; [[Sasha]] and [[Vera]] <ref name="note8"/> were busy with their books). ''Sestritsa''{{'}}s stories about her youth, parents, engagement, etc. Wrote letters and studied English. Unsuccessful attempt to get to vespers at the Pokrovsky Church, but at least had a pleasant stroll beyond the church. Telegram from [[Modest]] which worried me <ref name="note9"/>. After supper sat with [[Bob]] in the study and chatted about school matters. Vint. Out of luck; I wasn't irritable, but broke into a cold sweat. The ''sensation'' was bothering me slightly, but now I do not fear my enemy because I know him; it is just my usual stomach playing up.
}}

=====Sunday 3/15 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''3 июня. Воскр[есенье]''. Пишу очень усталый. Поездка на целый день в большой лес. Я ''пешком'' до Подлесной. Там сиденье, обед, поход на хуторянские бураки с Лёвой и Керном, чай и т. д. Чуть меня не оставили по недоразумению ночевать в лесу. Дома ужин и винт с Керном. Страшно сильное чувство ''Z''. Боже мой, прости и укроти меня. ''Ощущение'' прошло совершенно. Телеграмма от Moдеста. Странная вещь: ''ужасно'' не хочется уезжать отсюда. Я думаю, все дело в Бобе.
|Translated text=''3 June. Sunday''. Very tired writing this. There was a full day's trip to the big forest. I was ''on foot'' as far as Podlesnaya. We took a rest there and had lunch. Made a walking trip to the farmstead beetroot fields with [[Lev]] and Kern <ref name="note10"/>, tea, etc. Through a mix up they almost left me to spend the night in the forest. Supper at home and vint with Kern. A terribly intense feeling of ''Z'' <ref name="note11"/>. My God, forgive me and calm my passions. The ''sensation'' has gone entirely. Telegram from [[Modest]]. It's a strange thing, but I ''desperately'' don't want to leave this place. I think that it is all to do with [[Bob]].
}}

=====Monday 4/16 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''4 июня''. Видел во сне ''М.'' и вследствие того целый день был немножко и даже более чем немножко влюблен. Странно, дико, безобразно, - но чего бы я не дал, чтобы расцеловать её ... Ничего, ничего... молчанье...!!! — Был утром в Тростянке и находился в состоянии жуткости и грусти, ибо из письма Ник[олай] Дм[итриевич] К[ондратьев] узнал о смерти бедного добряка Масалитинова. Его, конечно, жаль, ибо ещё бы мог пожить, но как убийственно должен страдать Гол[ицын]!!! Обедал Керн, и после того я совершенно напрасно ликер пил. За чаем, да и вообще целый день, меня раздражала бедная сестрица, с которой я совсем не так ласков, как бы следовало. Забыл сказать, что за обедом было немало того, что так убийственно на меня действует (по поводу Круаза и т. д.). Дремал днём, что давно со мною не было. За чаем были также божественные старушки, а потом, встретивши их в саду (они с Лёв[ой] и Саш[ей] к Ник[олаю] Вас[ильевичу] ходили), проводил их до дому. Вообще без толку шлялся и, между прочим, на крыше сидел. Ната долго беседовала со мной у окна. После ужина многие прощаться с Сашей приходили. Винт. Мне очень не везло. От этого, но главное, от тысячи других причин, составляющих то, что я называю ''Z'', я злился, как лютая змея. Пришел домой под грустным, тяжелым давлением этого ''Z''.
|Translated text=''4 June''. Had a dream about ''M'', and as a consequence all day I was slightly, even more than slightly, in love. It's strange, bizarre, disgraceful, but what I would give to kiss her all over <ref name="note12"/>. Nothing, 'tis nothing... be silent...!!! <ref name="note13"/>. Was in the Trostyanka <ref name="note14"/> this morning feeling awe-struck and sad because in a letter from [[Nikolay Kondratyev|Nikolay Dmitryevich Kondratyev]] I learned about the death of that poor good soul Masalitinov <ref name="note15"/>. I feel sorry for him, of course, because he could yet have had more years ahead of him, but how dreadfully Golitsyn must be suffering!!! Kern stayed for lunch, and after that I drank liqueur, and all completely to no purpose. During tea, and the entire day as a matter of fact, I was irritated by poor Sestritsa, with whom I am not as affectionate as I ought to be. I forgot to say that during lunch there was no small measure of that which affects me so dreadfully (on account of Croazot <ref name="note16"/>, etc.). I dozed off during the day, something which has not happened to me for a long time. The wonderful old ladies were also there for tea. Later, when I ran into them in the garden (they were with [[Lev]] and [[Sasha]] walking over to Nikolay Vasilyevich), I accompanied them as far as the house. In general, I wandered about to no purpose and, by the way, sat on the roof by the way. [[Nata]] chatted to me for a long time near the window. After supper many people came to say goodbye to [[Sasha]] <ref name="note17"/>. Vint. I was very out of luck. From this, but principally from the thousand other reasons which constitute what I call ''Z'', I was as irritable as a ferocious snake. Arrived home heavy with the sad and oppressive weight of this ''Z''.
}}

=====Tuesday 5/17 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''5 июня''. Проснулся с сильной болью в горле и лихорадочным состоянием. Заставил себя пройтись. Занимался дома. Вадим появился. После обеда боль стала усиливаться, и я разболелся совсем, так чтоне ужинал, а боль в горле была столь ужасна, что каждое глотание было адским мучением. Ночь была мучительна ужасно.
|Translated text=''5 June''. Woke up with an intense pain in my throat and in a feverish state. Forced myself to walk about. Worked at home. Vadim appeared <ref name="note18"/>. After lunch the pain worsened and I was aching all over to such an extent that I skipped supper. The pain in my throat was so terrible that every time I swallowed it was a hellish torture. The night was a sheer torment.
}}

=====Wednesday 6/18 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''6 июня''. К утру немного лучше благодаря обильному поту. Как Алёша много выказывает дружбы и участия в подобных случаях. Посылал за Куликовым. Успокоил, сказав, что нарыва нет. Хотя мне и лучше, но все же ещё скверно, и я не знаю, как поеду завтра. Целый день почти спал. Навещали. Очень мало ел. Иные посетители (Як[ов] Мих[айлович]) тяготили меня. Играл всё-таки в винт, но насилу 2 робера сыграл. Ночью спал прерывисто. Слышал Сашин отъезд.
|Translated text=''6 June''. By morning I felt a little better thanks to profuse sweating. How much friendship and sympathy [[Alyosha]] shows in such cases. He sent for Kulikov <ref name="note19"/>. He calmed me by saying that there was no abscess. Although I am better, I still feel vile, and I do not know how I can travel tomorrow. Spent almost the entire day asleep. People came to see me. Ate very little. Other visitors (Yakov Mikhaylovich) <ref name="note20"/> were a burden. Still played vint, but it was an effort to play two rubbers. Slept fitfully. I heard [[Sasha]] leaving.
}}

=====Thursday 7/19 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''7 июня''. Весь день дома просидел. Опять приходили, между прочим, Лиз[авета] и Вера Вас[ильевны] и Лысый. Гораздо лучше. Читал все ''Воспоминания'' Панаева. День холодный. Обедал у себя. Визит M-me Силы. Ужинал в доме. Винт с Флегонтом, Лёв[ой] и Димой (который успел-таки выманить субсидию).
|Translated text=''7 June''. Sat at home all day. Amongst others, Lizaveta, [[Vera Vasilyevna]] and Baldy <ref name="note21"/> came to see me, again. Feeling much better. Read all Panayev's ''Memoirs'' <ref name="note22"/>. A cold day. Had lunch in my room. Visit from M-de Sila <ref name="note23"/>. Had supper over at the house. Vint with Flegont <ref name="note24"/>, [[Lev]] and Dima (who managed to wheedle out a subsidy after all).
}}

=====Friday 8/20 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''8 июня''. Прогулялся в Тростянку. После обеда был в большом доме и сидел у Ал[ександры] Ив[ановны] с Лиз[аветой] Вас[ильевной] и Вер[ой] Вас[ильевной]. Розовое варенье. Чай дома. Поездка по полям в линейке с Ник[олаем] Вас[ильевичем] и 3 менторами. После ужина винт. В 11 ч[асов] уехали на станцию пьяный Алёша и несносный негодяй Митька. В Знаменке час. Добрый генерал. Кресельный особой констр[укции] вагон. Восход солнца.
|Translated text=''8 June''. Walked to Trostyanka. After lunch I was in the big house and sat with Aleksandra Ivanovna, Lizaveta Vasilyevna, and Vera Vasilyevna. Rose jam. Tea. Home. A ride over the fields in a brake with Nikolay Vasilyevich and the 3 teachers. After supper, vint. At 11 o'clock I set off for the station with a drunken [[Alyosha]] and that intolerable good-for-nothing [[Mitka]]. At Znamenka by one. The kind general. A specially-constructed passenger coach. Sunrise.
}}

=====Saturday 9/21 June 1884=====
{{Diarytext
|Original text=''9 июня''. Много спал. В 4 часа Харьков. По случаю выставки попал не в ''Gr[and] Hotel'', а в ''Métropole''. Фланерство. Собор. Певчие. Обед в ''Gr[and] Hotel''. Чай дома. С Алёшей [ходили] в сад Тиволи.
|Translated text=''9 June''. Slept a lot. In [[Kharkov]] at 4 o'clock <ref name="note25"/>. Because of the exhibition we ended up not in the ''Grand Hotel'', but at the ''Métropole''. Milling around. The cathedral. The choristers. Lunch at the ''Grand Hotel''. Tea at home. Went with [[Alyosha]] to the Tivoli Gardens.
}}

==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">Here Tchaikovsky describes a bout of tonsillitis (referred to in the diary referred as the "sensation"), which had started on [[Diaries_(May_1884)#Tuesday 22 May/3 June 1884|22 May/3 June]] and lasted about two weeks. In [[Letter 2502]] to [[Nadezhda von Meck]] written on 7/19 June, Tchaikovsky provided a summary of his illness: "I had some sort of inflammation in my throat with a strong fever and such a terrible pain in my throat that during course of one day I could not even swallow a little sip of water. It is much better now, but I feel very weak". Some 20h-century biographers interpreted this innocent description by Tchaikovsky of his sore throat as a "revelation of self-tormenting morbidity" — see Nicolas Slonimsky, {{bib|1938/33|Further light on Tchaikovsky}} (1938), p. 145-146.</ref>
<ref name="note2">Grigory Davydov (1870-1919), the son of [[Lev Davydov]]'s younger brother Aleksey.</ref>
<ref name="note3">[[Natalya Plesskaya|Natalya Andreyevna Plesskaya]] ("Nata") was a very close friend and confidant of Tchaikovsky's sister [[Aleksandra Davydova|Sasha]]. See {{bib|1962/23|Записки о П. И. Чайковском}}(1962), p. 36-37.</ref>
<ref name="note4">Stanislav Blumenfeld (1850-1897), pianist and former music teacher of the Davydov children, who lived in [[Kiev]]. The previous year the composer's niece [[Tatyana Davydova]] ("Tanya") had become pregnant by Blumenfeld, and the composer and his brother [[Modest]] were the only two members of the family to be entrusted with the secret; they took [[Tanya]] to [[Paris]], and arranged her medical care. After she gave birth to a boy on 26 April/8 May 1883, [[Georges-Léon]], the composer himself registered the child's birth, organised his baptism, and provided financial support. [[Tanya]] had since remained in [[Paris]] with the child, but Tchaikovsky's concern that her secret might be revealed was the reason for his "dreadful, frenzied agitation" mentioned in this diary entry. The composer later helped to arrange [[Georges-Léon]]'s eventual adoption by his brother [[Nikolay Tchaikovsky]].</ref>
<ref name="note5">Vladimir Andreyevich Plessky—nicknamed "Baldy" (Лысый) by Tchaikovsky—was the manager of Nikolay Davydov's estate, and landowner of the neighbouring estate at Yanovka. The composer had friendly relations with Vladimir and his Swiss-born wife Yuliya (who was also governess to [[Lev Davydov]]'s daughters), their children Boris, Mikhail and Dolya. Vladimir was also the brother of [[Natalya Plesskaya|Natalya ("Nata") Plesskaya]]. See {{bib|1962/23|Записки о П. И. Чайковском}}(1962), p. 36.</ref>
<ref name="note6">Tchaikovsky was arranging his recently-composed [[Suite No. 3]] for piano 4 hands.</ref>
<ref name="note7">Gorodki was a game played by striking blocks of wood with a stick.</ref>
<ref name="note8">[[Vera Butakova|Vera Vasilyevna Butakova]] (1848-1923), [[Lev Davydov]]'s sister. In the late 1860s she was in love with Tchaikovsky, but her feelings were not reciprocated (see Alexander Poznansky, ''{{bib|1993/186|Tchaikovsky. The Quest for the Inner Man}}'' (1993), p. 102-105). Widowed two years earlier, she now lived at the 'big house' in [[Kamenka]], and seemed still to harbour some of her youthful infatuation with Tchaikovsky, appearing constantly to be luring Tchaikovsky into embarrassing encounters.</ref>
<ref name="note9">The composer's brother [[Modest]] had telegraphed from [[Saint Petersburg]] that due to illness his departure for [[Nikolay Konradi]]'s estate at [[Grankino]], where Tchaikovsky planned to spent the next month, would be delayed.</ref>
<ref name="note10">Otto Kern, a businessmen specializing in the sugar industry.</ref>
<ref name="note11">Throughout this diary Tchaikovsky used the symbol "Z" represent his negative feelings at [[Kamenka]], usually in the context of cards and gambling, but also as a result of his earlier daily disappointments and distress in regard to his routine in the Davydov household. Similarly, "X" was used to represent his self-reproach at harbouring such uncharitable feelings. See also Alexander Poznansky, ''{{bib|1993/186|Tchaikovsky. The Quest for the Inner Man}}'' (1993), p. 436-440.</ref>
<ref name="note12">This sentence was suppressed in previous editions of the diaries, and is reproduced here for the first time, except for the omission of one word, which Tchaikovsky did not write himself. It is probable that the mysterious "M" was not a lady, but a young man; otherwise it is difficult to explain either Tchaikovsky's concealment of the name under initial or of the editors' excision of the portion of the entry. In his letters to [[Modest]], Tchaikovsky occasionally referred to young men with whom he had sexual encounters, by feminine pronouns, and he used on occasion humorously female names for his fellow homosexual (and even for non-homosexual) friends and relatives. See Alexander Poznansky, ''{{bib|1993/186|Tchaikovsky. The Quest for the Inner Man}}'' (1993), p. 138-150; Valery Sokolov, «{{bib|1995/123|Письма П. И. Чайковского без купюр}} (1995), p. 127-128, 133.</ref>
<ref name="note13">This popular phrase, which Tchaikovsky used many times in his diaries and letters, is the refrain from [[Nikolay Gogol]]'s 1835 short story ''The Diary of a Madman'' (Записки сумасшедшего), also quoted by Masha in [[Anton Chekhov]]'s play ''Three Sisters'' (Три сeстры) (1900).</ref>
<ref name="note14">The Trostyanka woods, near [[Kamenka]].</ref>
<ref name="note15">Nikolay Masalitinov was a lover of Tchaikovsky's society friend Aleksey Golitsyn. For more on Masalitinov and Golitsyn, see Alexander Poznansky, ''{{bib|1993/186|Tchaikovsky. The Quest for the Inner Man}}'' (1993), p. 55, 92, 140, 357-359, 460, 510.</ref>
<ref name="note16">Madame de Croazot was the French governess of the daughters of Nikolay Vasilyevich Davydov (brother of [[Lev]]): Mariya (known as "Manya") and Varvara.</ref>
<ref name="note17">Tchaikovsky's sister [[Aleksandra Davydova|Aleksandra]] was about to leave for abroad.</ref>
<ref name="note18">Vadim ("Dima") Presleni, son of [[Lev Davydov]]'s sister Yekaterina.</ref>
<ref name="note19">Dr Kulikov worked at the hospital in [[Kamenka]].</ref>
<ref name="note20">A friend or relative of the Davydovs'.</ref>
<ref name="note21">Vladimir Plessky.</ref>
<ref name="note22">Ivan Panayev (1812-1862), writer and journalist, whose ''Memoirs'' (Воспоминания) were published in 1861.</ref>
<ref name="note23">A local resident of [[Kamenka]].</ref>
<ref name="note24">Flegont Biesterfeldt, tutor to [[Lev Davydov]]'s children.</ref>
<ref name="note25">Tchaikovsky and [[Aleksey Sofronov]] spent one day in [[Kharkov]], waiting for [[Modest]]'s arrival from [[Saint Petersburg]] on 10/22 June. [[Modest]] came alone, since [[Nikolay Konradi]] had gone to his family estate at [[Grankino]] a week earlier. The next day Tchaikovsky, [[Modest]] and [[Aleksey]] started their journey to [[Grankino]], which took about 12 hours on by horse carriage.</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Diaries|1884-06]]

Diaries (June 1884) - Revision history

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