Letter 1414

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 25 January/6 February 1880
Addressed to Karl Davydov
Where written Rome
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 161)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том IX (1965), p. 37–38
Notes Original incorrectly dated "24 January/6 February"

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
Рим  24 янв[аря]
6 фев[раля]
 1880

Добрейший Карл Юльевич!

Вчера получил Ваше письмо. К Вашему поручению отнёсся с величайшей неохотой. Не поговоривши с Вами, не имея понятия обо всем остальном, — так трудно сделать что-нибудь вполне пригодное. Однако ж, обдумавши дело, решил, что нужно принять участие в общем деле, и поэтому тотчас же примусь за работу. Признаться сказать, я предпочёл бы что-нибудь другое. Черногория? Чтение манифеста? Это меня смущает, и покамест ещё в голове совершенно пусто. Как бы то ни было, но я исполню Ваше желание, хотя бы для того, чтобы Вам угодить.

Карл Юльевич! Нельзя ли в это представление сунуть куда-нибудь мой сербо-русский марш? Может быть, эта мысль глупа, — но я ведь совсем, всё-таки, не понимаю, что будет твориться. Если бы этот вопрос (насчёт марша) мог быть разрешён Вами утвердительно, тогда, быть может, Вы даже нашли бы возможным именно им и иллюстрировать 7-ую картину. Я делаю это предложение, потому что чувствую, что при моей теперешней неохоте к писанию я ничего действительно порядочного сделать не могу. Но, повторяю, во всяком случае поручение Ваше исполню, и в срок. Я воображал, что Вы за границей, как предполагали? Жалею, что Вы не отдыхаете, но радуюсь, что, судя по принятым Вами на себя хлопотам, Вы здоровы и бодры. Дай Бог Вам всякого благополучия.

Я написал (но ещё не инструментовал) итальянскую фантазию, которую посвящаю Вам.

Крепко жму Вам руку. Спасибо за приятное известие о сюите. Я ничего о ней не знал.

Целую ручки Александры Аркадьевны.

Искренно любящий и преданный,

П. Чайковский

Rome  24 January
6 February
 1880

Most kind Karl Yulyevich!

I received your letter yesterday [1]. I am responding to your commission with the greatest reluctance. Without having discussed this with you, nor having any notion of what everyone else is doing, it is so difficult to do something entirely suitable. However, having considered the matter, I decided that it is essential to play my part for in the common cause, and therefore I shall set to work at once. I must admit that I should have preferred something else. Montenegro? The reading of a manifest? I am discomfited by this, and so far my head is completely empty. Be that as it may, I shall still carry out your wish, if only to please you.

Karl Yulyevich! Would it be possible to slip my Serbo-Russian March into this performance? Perhaps this is a silly idea, but I still really do not understand what it is all about. If this question (regarding the march) could be settled by you in the affirmative, then, perhaps, you could even find it possible to have it illustrate the 7th scene. I make this suggestion because I feel that, given my current disinclination to write, I really cannot come up with anything decent. But, I repeat, I shall carry out your instructions come what may, and on time. I have been under the impression that you were abroad, as you had implied? I am sorry that you are not resting, but glad that, judging by the pains you have taken, you are healthy and in good spirits. May God grant you every good fortune.

I have written (but not yet orchestrated) an Italian fantasia, which I am dedicating to you.

I shake your hand warmly. Thank you for the welcome news about the suite, which I knew nothing about [2].

I kiss Aleksandra Arkadyevna's hands.

With sincere affection and devotion,

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. In January 1880 Tchaikovsky received commission from Karl Davydov, the director of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, to provide some music for the silver jubilee celebrations of Tsar Alexander II. A series of tableaux, depicting the principal events of the Emperor's reign, were to be performed, and their texts were to be accompanied by music commissioned from all the leading Russian composers, including Anton Rubinstein, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, César Cui, Eduard Nápravník, Aleksandr Borodin and Nikolay Solovyev. The programme of the scene for which Tchaikovsky's music was commissioned was described as: "Tableau VII: The moment at which news is received in Montenegro of Russia's declaration of war on Turkey (the Leader reading the manifesto to the Montenegrins)".
  2. Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 1 had been performed in Saint Petersburg for the first time on 12/24 January 1880, at the sixth Russian Musical Society concert, conducted by Eduard Nápravník.