Letter 3183
| Date | 14/26 February 1887 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Sergey Taneyev |
| Where written | Maydanovo |
| Language | Russian |
| Autograph Location | Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 397) |
| Publication | Советская музыка (1937), No. 6, p. 77 П. И. Чайковский. С. И. Танеев. Письма (1951), p. 143–144 П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIV (1974), p. 49–50 |
Text and Translation
| Russian text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
14 февр[аля] Сергей Иванович! Проиграв финальный хор «Черевичек» я усомнился в пригодности его. Он слишком финален; это только конец, предполагающий задолго какое-то начало и какую-то середину между тем и другим. Сам же по себе, не имеющий ни одной модуляции и никакого развития основной мысли, он едва ли годится. Впрочем, как угодно. На обороте выписываю главный голос и слова. Предполагается, что какой-то народ ожидает какого-то князя.   как в клавираусцуге. Если Вы всё-таки решите исполнить этот хор, пошлите к Юргенсону за партитурой. Вряд ли поспеют списать голоса! До свидания, голубчик! Ваш, П. Чайковский Пошлите также за клавираусцугом. |
14 February Sergey Ivanovich! I have reservations about the suitability of performing the final chorus from "Cherevichki". It is too final; this is merely the end, presupposing that it's a long way from the start, with something-or-other going on between the two. On its own, it has not a single modulation and no development of the main idea, and it's scarcely fitting. However, do as you please. On the reverse I've written out the main parts and words. It's implied that some people or other are expecting some prince or other. as in the piano reduction. If you decide to perform this chorus all the same, send off to Jurgenson's for the full score. It's unlikely they'll have the parts![1] Until we meet, golubchik! Yours, P. Tchaikovsky Send off for the piano reduction as well. |
Notes and References
- ↑ On 22 February/6 March 1887, Sergey Taneyev conducted a Russian Musical Society charity concert in Moscow, "in aid of poor students in the conservatory, with the exclusive participation of pupils and students", and in a letter which has not survived he asked Tchaikovsky's permission to include the closing chorus from Cherevichki (Act IV, No. 25). The words from this chorus as set out in Tchaikovsky's letter contain some differences from the score of the opera. In the event, Taneyev chose instead to perform extracts from Tchaikovsky's still-unfinished opera The Enchantress at the concert instead of Cherevichki.
