Letter 2594 - Revision history

Tony at 13:18, 14 January 2025

2025-01-14T13:18:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 14 January 2025
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	\|Translated text={{right\|''[[Davos]]'', 17 November}}		\|Translated text={{right\|''[[Davos]]'', 17 November}}
	{{centre\|Dear friend [[Mily Alekseyevich]]!}}		{{centre\|Dear friend [[Mily Alekseyevich]]!}}
	You told me that [[His Majesty]] had asked you whether I had sent the ''Cherubim's Song''. From another source I know that he once expressed his surprise at the fact that I hadn't sent anything yet. Well, the point is that when [[His Majesty]] asked me whether I intended to write for the church, I replied ''that I did and that I wanted to do so very much''. However, I probably replied in a sort of vague way and [[His Majesty]] had reason to believe that I would set about this task immediately. As a matter of fact, I was intending to devote myself thoroughly to the composition of church music ''at some point'', but not now. However, seeing that [[His Majesty]] was expecting a ''Cherubim's Song'' from me, I felt that I could not work calmly on anything else until I had fulfilled what he considers to be my promise. And so I have written three Cherubim's Songs, which I am now sending to you enclosed with this letter <ref name="note1"/>. At the same time I wrote to Prince Obolensky <ref name="note2"/> (from whom I received confirmation, as well as a reminder, of [[His Majesty]]'s wish), telling him that I had sent to you my three new attempts in the field of sacred music. If [[His Majesty]] orders [the Imperial Chapel Choir] to study one of them, then I humbly ask you, golubchik, to choose which one of the three you consider to be superior. In my opinion the third (in C major) is the best, but I fear lest my attempt to imitate ''non-notated'' sacred chants (in "That we may receive the King") should strike you as unsuccessful and inappropriate. Then again the remaining two are different, in that one (in D major) sounds closer in style to [[Bortnyansky]] <ref name="note3"/>, while the other is much further away, although I am admittedly a poor judge of my own works, and you have complete discretion to choose any one of the three.		You told me that [[His Majesty]] had asked you whether I had sent the ''Cherubim's Song''. From another source, I know that he once expressed his surprise at the fact that I hadn't sent anything yet. Well, the point is that when [[His Majesty]] asked me whether I intended to write for the church, I replied ''that I did and that I wanted to do so very much''. However, I probably replied in a sort of vague way and [[His Majesty]] had reason to believe that I would set about this task immediately. As a matter of fact, I was intending to devote myself thoroughly to the composition of church music ''at some point'', but not now. However, seeing that [[His Majesty]] was expecting a ''Cherubim's Song'' from me, I felt that I could not work calmly on anything else until I had fulfilled what he considers to be my promise. And so I have written three Cherubim's Songs, which I am now sending to you enclosed with this letter <ref name="note1"/>. At the same time, I wrote to Prince Obolensky <ref name="note2"/> (from whom I received confirmation, as well as a reminder, of [[His Majesty]]'s wish), telling him that I had sent to you my three new attempts in the field of sacred music. If [[His Majesty]] orders [the Imperial Chapel Choir] to study one of them, then I humbly ask you, golubchik, to choose which one of the three you consider to be superior. In my opinion, the third (in C major) is the best, but I fear lest my attempt to imitate ''non-notated'' sacred chants (in "That we may receive the King") should strike you as unsuccessful and inappropriate. Then again the remaining two are different, in that one (in D major) sounds closer in style to [[Bortnyansky]] <ref name="note3"/>, while the other is much further away, although I am admittedly a poor judge of my own works, and you have complete discretion to choose any one of the three.

	I am in a rather sad frame of mind: I am living in a most gloomy and depressing place, and, besides, all day long I hear the consumptive cough of my invalid <ref name="note4"/>. I have read through ''Manfred'' and thought about it a great deal, but I haven't started planning the themes and forms yet. I'm not going to rush, but I give you the firm promise that if I am still alive then, the symphony will have been written by the summer at the latest.		I am in a rather sad frame of mind: I am living in a most gloomy and depressing place, and, besides, all day long I hear the consumptive cough of my invalid <ref name="note4"/>. I have read through ''Manfred'' and thought about it a great deal, but I haven't started planning the themes and forms yet. I'm not going to rush, but I give you the firm promise that if I am still alive then, the symphony will have been written by the summer at the latest.
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	==Notes and References==		==Notes and References==
	<references>		<references>
	<ref name="note1">Tchaikovsky wrote two ''Cherubim's Songs'' (in F major and D major) in [[Berlin]], and a third (in C major) in [[Davos]]. They were published as the first three of the [[Nine Church Pieces]] by [[Jurgenson]] in 1885. As director of the Imperial Chapel Choir [[Balakirev]] was particularly interested in these pieces.</ref>		<ref name="note1">Tchaikovsky wrote two ''Cherubim's Songs'' (in F major and D major) in [[Berlin]], and a third (in C major) in [[Davos]]. They were published as the first three of the [[Nine Church Pieces]] by [[Jurgenson]] in 1885. As director of the Imperial Chapel Choir, [[Balakirev]] was particularly interested in these pieces.</ref>
	<ref name="note2">Prince Vladimir Sergeyevich Obolensky (1843–1917), aide-de-camp to [[Alexander III]]. Tchaikovsky's letter to him has not survived.</ref>		<ref name="note2">Prince Vladimir Sergeyevich Obolensky (1843–1917), aide-de-camp to [[Alexander III]]. Tchaikovsky's letter to him has not survived.</ref>
	<ref name="note3">[[Dmitry Bortnyansky]] (1751–1825), Ukrainian composer, now most famous for his sacred choral works. In 1881, following a commission from [[Jurgenson]], Tchaikovsky edited and arranged for piano [[Bortnyansky]]'s [[Complete Church Music (Bortnyansky)\|Complete Church Music]].</ref>		<ref name="note3">[[Dmitry Bortnyansky]] (1751–1825), Ukrainian composer, now most famous for his sacred choral works. In 1881, following a commission from [[Jurgenson]], Tchaikovsky edited and arranged for piano [[Bortnyansky]]'s [[Complete Church Music (Bortnyansky)\|Complete Church Music]].</ref>
	<ref name="note4">The violinist [[Iosif Kotek]], whom Tchaikovsky had come to [[Davos]] to visit. [[Kotek]] would die less than two months later.</ref>		<ref name="note4">The violinist [[Iosif Kotek]], whom Tchaikovsky had come to [[Davos]] to visit. [[Kotek]] would die less than two months later.</ref>
	</references>		</references>

Brett: 1 revision imported

2022-07-12T12:20:05Z

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Brett at 19:47, 16 November 2019

2019-11-16T19:47:48Z

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{{letterhead
|Date=17/29 November 1884
|To=[[Mily Balakirev]]
|Place=[[Davos]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph=[[Saint Petersburg]] (Russia): {{RUS-SPsc}} (ф. 834, ед. хр. 12, л. 17–18)
|Publication={{bib|1912/19|Переписка М. А. Балакирева и П. И. Чайковского}} [1912], p. 85–86<br/>{{bibx|1962/71|Милий Алексеевич Балакирев. Воспоминания и письма}} (1962), p. 173–174<br/>{{bib|1970/86|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XII}} (1970), p. 487–488 }}

==Text and Translation==
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Luis Sundkvist
|Original text={{right|''Давос'', 17 ноября}}
{{centre|Дорогой друг Милий Алексеевич!}}
Вы говорили мне, что государь спрашивал Вас, прислал ли я «''Херувимскую''». Из другого источника я знаю, что он выразил однажды удивление, почему я ничего не присылаю? Дело в том, что я действительно отвечал на вопрос государя, намерен ли я писать для церкви, что ''намерен и очень этого желаю'', но, вероятно, я как-нибудь неясно ответил, и государь имел основание думать, что я тотчас же приступлю к этой работе. В сущности, я намеревался ''когда-нибудь'' основательно заняться сочинением церковной музыки, а не теперь. Но ввиду того, что государь ожидает от меня ''херувимской'', я чувствовал, что не могу покойно заняться чем бы то ни было, пока не исполню того, что он считает моим обещанием. И вот я написал три «Херувимские песни», которые при сём посылаю Вам. В то же время я написал князю Оболенскому, через которого получил подтверждение и напоминание выраженного государем желания, о том, что мною высланы к Вам мои 3 новых опыта по части церковной музыки. Если государь велит одну из них разучить, то покорнейше прошу Вас, голубчик, выбрать ту из трёх, которую Вы считаете лучшей. Что касается меня, то я больше всех доволен третьею (в C-dur), но боюсь, что попытка подражать ''не нотному'' церковному пению (в «Яко да Царя») покажется Вам неудачной и неуместной. Затем остальные две отличаются тем, что одна слишком близка к стилю Бортнянского (в D-dur), а другая слишком далека, — а впрочем, я плохой судья в своих вещах и предоставляю совершенно на Ваше усмотрение выбор одной из трех.

Я нахожусь в довольно грустном состоянии духа; живу в местности крайне мрачной и унылой, да притом слышу с утра до вечера чахоточный кашель моего больного. Прочёл «''Манфреда''» и думал о нём очень много, но ещё не начинал проектирования тем и формы. Да я и не буду торопиться, но даю Вам положительное обещание, что если останусь жив, то не позже лета симфония будет написана.

Впрочем, в непродолжительном будущем увижусь с Вами и побеседуем об этом и о многом другом

Крепко жму Вашу руку, добрейший человек!
{{right|Ваш П. Чайковский}}
Кланяюсь, всем вообще, а Корсакову и Глазунову особенно

''Херувимские посылаю в отдельном пакете''

|Translated text={{right|''[[Davos]]'', 17 November}}
{{centre|Dear friend [[Mily Alekseyevich]]!}}
You told me that [[His Majesty]] had asked you whether I had sent the ''Cherubim's Song''. From another source I know that he once expressed his surprise at the fact that I hadn't sent anything yet. Well, the point is that when [[His Majesty]] asked me whether I intended to write for the church, I replied ''that I did and that I wanted to do so very much''. However, I probably replied in a sort of vague way and [[His Majesty]] had reason to believe that I would set about this task immediately. As a matter of fact, I was intending to devote myself thoroughly to the composition of church music ''at some point'', but not now. However, seeing that [[His Majesty]] was expecting a ''Cherubim's Song'' from me, I felt that I could not work calmly on anything else until I had fulfilled what he considers to be my promise. And so I have written three Cherubim's Songs, which I am now sending to you enclosed with this letter <ref name="note1"/>. At the same time I wrote to Prince Obolensky <ref name="note2"/> (from whom I received confirmation, as well as a reminder, of [[His Majesty]]'s wish), telling him that I had sent to you my three new attempts in the field of sacred music. If [[His Majesty]] orders [the Imperial Chapel Choir] to study one of them, then I humbly ask you, golubchik, to choose which one of the three you consider to be superior. In my opinion the third (in C major) is the best, but I fear lest my attempt to imitate ''non-notated'' sacred chants (in "That we may receive the King") should strike you as unsuccessful and inappropriate. Then again the remaining two are different, in that one (in D major) sounds closer in style to [[Bortnyansky]] <ref name="note3"/>, while the other is much further away, although I am admittedly a poor judge of my own works, and you have complete discretion to choose any one of the three.

I am in a rather sad frame of mind: I am living in a most gloomy and depressing place, and, besides, all day long I hear the consumptive cough of my invalid <ref name="note4"/>. I have read through ''Manfred'' and thought about it a great deal, but I haven't started planning the themes and forms yet. I'm not going to rush, but I give you the firm promise that if I am still alive then, the symphony will have been written by the summer at the latest.

However, we shall shortly be seeing each other and we can then talk about this and many other things

I shake your hand tightly, you kindest of men!
{{right|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky }}
Give my regards to everyone in general, and to [[Korsakov]] and [[Glazunov]] in particular.

''I am sending the Cherubim's Songs in a separate packet''.
}}

==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">Tchaikovsky wrote two ''Cherubim's Songs'' (in F major and D major) in [[Berlin]], and a third (in C major) in [[Davos]]. They were published as the first three of the [[Nine Church Pieces]] by [[Jurgenson]] in 1885. As director of the Imperial Chapel Choir [[Balakirev]] was particularly interested in these pieces.</ref>
<ref name="note2">Prince Vladimir Sergeyevich Obolensky (1843–1917), aide-de-camp to [[Alexander III]]. Tchaikovsky's letter to him has not survived.</ref>
<ref name="note3">[[Dmitry Bortnyansky]] (1751–1825), Ukrainian composer, now most famous for his sacred choral works. In 1881, following a commission from [[Jurgenson]], Tchaikovsky edited and arranged for piano [[Bortnyansky]]'s [[Complete Church Music (Bortnyansky)|Complete Church Music]].</ref>
<ref name="note4">The violinist [[Iosif Kotek]], whom Tchaikovsky had come to [[Davos]] to visit. [[Kotek]] would die less than two months later.</ref>
</references>