Letter 2243: Difference between revisions
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{{letterhead | {{letterhead | ||
|Date=20 March/1 April 1883 | |Date=20 March/1 April 1883 | ||
|To=[[Sofya | |To=[[Sofya Malozyomova]] | ||
|Place=[[Paris]] | |Place=[[Paris]] | ||
|Language=Russian | |Language=Russian | ||
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|Translated text={{right|{{datestyle|''[[Paris]]''|{{sic|20|21}} March|2 April|1883}}}} | |Translated text={{right|{{datestyle|''[[Paris]]''|{{sic|20|21}} March|2 April|1883}}}} | ||
{{centre|Golubushka [[Sofya | {{centre|Golubushka [[Sofya Malozyomova|Sofya Aleksandrovna]]!}} | ||
Around 4 or 5 days before [[Kondratyev]] arrived, I received a request from the [[Moscow]] local authorities to write a festival march for the celebrations that the city is giving for the | Around 4 or 5 days before [[Kondratyev]] arrived, I received a request from the [[Moscow]] local authorities to write a festival march for the celebrations that the city is giving for the Sovereign in the Sokolniki. Despite my extreme reluctance to write anything at all at the present time, I could not refuse, and set about the march, which cost me a great deal of effort. No sooner had I started to dabble with this march, than I received a large package from the chairman of the coronation commission enclosing the text for a huge cantata, written by [[Maykov]], and a letter earnestly requesting me to write music on this text forthwith. My first reaction was to ignore this — but after mature reflection, I realised that I ''must'' perform this difficult task. Due to the extreme haste and urgency of the work, I need to expend the utmost degree of effort in order to to manage both of them. Consider then how I felt when you asked me to orchestrate the romance for [[Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya|Lizaveta Andreyevna]]. I cannot and do not want to refuse; I am happy and glad to serve her and to please you, and you correctly say that this work will not take me much time — but at the same time my tiredness, my exertion from simultaneously composing the march and the cantata are so great that, my God, I have no more strength to take on a third work, however straightforward. I will certainly do this — but I beg you and [[Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya|Lizaveta Andreyevna]] not to be angry with me, if I do not send the orchestrated romance quickly. I hope you will understand the unpleasantness of my situation, and I am sorry to involuntarily cause you to wait. When is the concert? If it is in Holy Week, then I shall make it on time, or perhaps earlier — but I cannot say for sure. I have no strength to take up anything until I have finished these two difficult works. Forgive me, golubushka. Bow low to [[Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya|Lizaveta Andreyevna]] and Iretska. | ||
{{right|Yours P. Tchaikovsky}} | {{right|Yours P. Tchaikovsky}} | ||
I did not answer promptly because I was somehow hoping to find the time — I see now that it has to wait. | I did not answer promptly because I was somehow hoping to find the time — I see now that it has to wait. | ||
}} | }} |
Latest revision as of 23:50, 24 February 2024
Date | 20 March/1 April 1883 |
---|---|
Addressed to | Sofya Malozyomova |
Where written | Paris |
Language | Russian |
Autograph Location | Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 12) |
Publication | П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XII (1970), p. 90–91 |
Text and Translation
Russian text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
Голубушка Софья Александровна!
Дня за 4 или за 5 до приезда Кондратьева я получил из Москвы от тамошних властей просьбу написать торжественный марш для праздника, который город собирается дать государю в Сокольниках. Несмотря на крайнее нерасположение к писанию в настоящее время чего бы то ни было, — я не мог отказаться и принялся за марш ценою большого напряжения. Только что начал я возиться с этим маршем, как получаю от председателя коронационной комиссии большой пакет со вложением текста большой кантаты, написанного Майковым, в письмо с убедительной просьбой поспешить написать на этот текст музыку. Я решился было сначала уклониться от этого, — но есть причины, по которым, по более зрелом размышлении, я нашёл, что должен исполнить эту трудную задачу. Ввиду крайней спешности и срочности работы приходится напрягать силы до последней степени, чтобы успеть сделать и то и другое. Судите же, каково мне было, когда Вы обратились ко мне с просьбой оркестровать романс для Лизаветы Андреевны. Я не могу, не хочу отказать; я счастлив и рад услужить ей и сделать удовольствие Вам, и Вы справедливо говорите, что работа эта не возьмёт у меня много времени, — но вместе с тем моя усталость, моё напряжение от одновременного сочинения марша и кантаты так велики, — что ей Богу нет сил ещё браться теперь за третью, хотя бы и самую лёгкую, работу. Конечно, я это сделаю, — но умоляю Вас и Лизавету Андреевну не сердиться на меня, если я не скоро пришлю оркестровку романса. Надеюсь что Вы поймёте неприятность моего положения и извините, что поневоле должен заставить Вас ждать. Клянусь Вам, что никогда ещё не испытывал такой усталости. Когда будет концерт? Если на фоминой, то поспею, а может быть и раньше, — но верно сказать не могу. Не в силах приняться за что-либо, пока не кончу этих двух трудных работ. Простите голубушка. Низко кланяюсь Елизавете Андреевне и Ирецкой. Ваш П. Чайковский Я оттого не сразу отвечал, что все надеялся как-нибудь найти время, — теперь вижу, что нужно подождать. |
Golubushka Sofya Aleksandrovna!
Around 4 or 5 days before Kondratyev arrived, I received a request from the Moscow local authorities to write a festival march for the celebrations that the city is giving for the Sovereign in the Sokolniki. Despite my extreme reluctance to write anything at all at the present time, I could not refuse, and set about the march, which cost me a great deal of effort. No sooner had I started to dabble with this march, than I received a large package from the chairman of the coronation commission enclosing the text for a huge cantata, written by Maykov, and a letter earnestly requesting me to write music on this text forthwith. My first reaction was to ignore this — but after mature reflection, I realised that I must perform this difficult task. Due to the extreme haste and urgency of the work, I need to expend the utmost degree of effort in order to to manage both of them. Consider then how I felt when you asked me to orchestrate the romance for Lizaveta Andreyevna. I cannot and do not want to refuse; I am happy and glad to serve her and to please you, and you correctly say that this work will not take me much time — but at the same time my tiredness, my exertion from simultaneously composing the march and the cantata are so great that, my God, I have no more strength to take on a third work, however straightforward. I will certainly do this — but I beg you and Lizaveta Andreyevna not to be angry with me, if I do not send the orchestrated romance quickly. I hope you will understand the unpleasantness of my situation, and I am sorry to involuntarily cause you to wait. When is the concert? If it is in Holy Week, then I shall make it on time, or perhaps earlier — but I cannot say for sure. I have no strength to take up anything until I have finished these two difficult works. Forgive me, golubushka. Bow low to Lizaveta Andreyevna and Iretska. Yours P. Tchaikovsky I did not answer promptly because I was somehow hoping to find the time — I see now that it has to wait. |