Letter 3328 and Sérénade mélancolique: Difference between pages

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{{letterhead
The '''''Sérénade mélancolique''''' (Меланхолическая серенада) in B-flat minor, [[Opus]] 26 ([[TH]] 56 ; [[ČW]] 58) <ref name="note1"/>, was Tchaikovsky's first composition for solo violin with orchestra, written in February 1875.
|Date=23 August/4 September 1887
|To=[[Modest Tchaikovsky]]
|Place=[[Aachen]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph=[[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}} (a{{sup|3}}, No. 1861)
|Publication={{bib|1974/53|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XIV}} (1974), p. 199
}}
==Text and Translation==
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Brett Langston
|Original text={{right|''23 авг[уста]'' [18]87 г[ода]<br/>Ахен}}
Вчера принуждены были сделать операцию выпуска воды — иначе он бы задохся. Воды вышло целое ведро почти. Он по чувствовал огромное облегчение — но положение очень серьёзно и слабость невероятна. Я от волнения сам вчера заболел. Доктор посетил меня 2 раза, был жар и бред; я испугался. Но сегодня уже почти здоров. Модя, заезжай, но не приезжай ко мне в Майданово. Я помешан теперь на мысли об ''одиночестве'' в Майданове, но вместе страшно хочется побеседовать с тобой. Я буду в Майданове в воскресенье 30-го августа. Обнимаю.
{{right|П. Чайковский}}


|Translated text={{right|''23 August'' 1887 <br/>[[Aachen]]}}
==Instrumentation==
Yesterday an operation was required to release water — otherwise he would suffocate. Almost a whole bucket came out. He felt hugely relieved — but the situation is very serious and he is incredibly weak. I've felt out of sorts myself since yesterday. The doctor visited me twice, I had fever and delirium; I was alarmed. But today I'm almost completely well. [[Modya]], call on me, but don't come to me at [[Maydanovo]]. I'm consumed by the thought of ''solitude'' at [[Maydanovo]], but I still terribly want to speak with you. I'll be at [[Maydanovo]] on Sunday 30th August. I hug you.
The piece is scored for solo violin and an orchestra consisting of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in F) + violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.
{{right|P. Tchaikovsky}}
 
}}
==Duration==
There is one movement: Andante (B-flat minor, 207 bars), which lasts approximately 10 minutes in performance.
 
==Composition==
On 13/25 February 1875, Tchaikovsky informed his brother [[Modest]] that "I've already written the violin piece, which I promised to [[Auer]]"  <ref name="note2"/>. It is unclear whether the piece had been orchestrated by this time, and there are no other references to the work in the composer's correspondence.
 
==Arrangements==
Tchaikovsky also arranged the ''Sérénade'' for violin and piano, probably in February 1875.
 
==Performances==
On 16/28 January 1876, [[Adolph Brodsky]] gave the premiere of the ''Sérénade mélancolique'' at the seventh symphony concert of the Russian Musical Society in [[Moscow]], conducted by [[Nikolay Rubinstein]], and he also gave the works' first performance in [[Saint Petersburg]] on 6/18 November 1876 at the first RMS symphony concert, conducted by [[Eduard Nápravník]]. Other notable performances in Tchaikovsky's lifetime were:
* [[Paris]], 3rd Russian symphony concert, 8/20 September 1878, [[Stanisław Barcewicz]] (violin), conducted by [[Nikolay Rubinstein]]
* [[London]], Crystal Palace, 28 April/10 May 1879, Pablo de Sarasate (violin), conducted by August Manns
* Elberfeld, 29 September/11 October 1879, Pablo de Sarasate (violin), conducted by Wilhelm Posse
* Mannheim, 3rd Academie-Concert, 13/25 November 1880, Émile Sauret (violin), conducted by Emil Pauer
* [[Paris]], 8th Concert Populaire, 23 November/5 December 1880, Paul Viardot (violin), conducted by Jules Pasdeloup
* [[Saint Petersburg]], 7th RMS symphony concert, 3/15 January 1881, Paul Viardot (violin), conducted by [[Eduard Nápravník]]
* Erfurt, Musikverein Concert, 10/22 February 1881, Émile Sauret (violin).
* [[Leipzig]], 8th Euterpe Society concert, 1/13 February 1883, [[Iosif Kotek]] (violin)
* [[Tiflis]], 2nd RMS symphony concert, 2/14 April 1886, Konstantin Gorsky (violin), conducted by [[Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov]]
* [[Vienna]], Philharmonic Society concert, 11/23 November 1887, František Ondříček (violin), Ludwig Rottenberg (piano) — in Tchaikovsky's arrangement for violin and piano
* [[Kiev]], 3rd RMS symphony concert, 4/16 February 1889, Pavel Pustarnakov (violin)
* [[Paris]], 23rd [[Colonne]] symphony concert, 24 March/5 April 1891, Johannes Wolf (violin), conducted by Tchaikovsky
* [[Warsaw]], 2/14 January 1892, [[Stanisław Barcewicz]] (violin), conducted by Tchaikovsky
 
==Publication==
The ''Sérénade mélancolique'' was published by [[Pyotr Jurgenson]] in [[Moscow]]:
* Arrangement for violin and piano, 9 pages. Plate 2742 — April 1876
* Orchestral parts. Plate 2749 — February 1876
* Full score, 29 pages. Plate 2750 — November 1879 <ref name="note3"/>.
 
In Tchaikovsky's ''[[Complete Collected Works]]'' the full score of the ''Sérénade'' was published in volume 30A, edited by Valentina Rachkovskaya (1949), and the violin-piano arrangement in volume 55A, edited by Ivan Shishov and Nikolay Shemanin (1946).
 
==Autographs==
The whereabouts of Tchaikovsky's autograph full score and piano arrangement are unknown.
 
==Recordings==
{{reclink}}
 
==Dedication==
The ''Sérénade'' was originally written for the violinist [[Leopold Auer]], with whom Tchaikovsky had become acquainted in January 1875 <ref name="note4"/>. However, in 1881, Tchaikovsky was offended by [[Leopold Auer]]'s refusal to perform his [[Violin Concerto]], and wanted to withdraw both the dedication of the concerto and of the ''Sérénade mélancolique''. On 19/31 December 1881, [[Pyotr Jurgenson]] wrote to Tchaikovsky about the concerto: "We are deleting [[Auer]]'s name from the title pages, but is it too late? You see, this is only on the new editions. The ''Serenade'', I think, can be done quickly" <ref name="note5"/>. However, the dedication to [[Auer]] was retained on [[Jurgenson]]'s later editions of the ''Sérénade mélancolique''.
 
==External Links==
* {{imslpscore|Sérénade_mélancolique,_Op.26_(Tchaikovsky,_Pyotr)|Sérénade mélancolique}}
 
==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">Entitled 'Melancholy Serenade' in [[ČW]].</ref>
<ref name="note2">See [[Letter 391]] to [[Modest Tchaikovsky]], 13/25 February 1875.</ref>
<ref name="note3">See letters [[Letter 865|865]], [[Letter 870|870]], [[Letter 872|872]], [[Letter 883|883]], [[Letter 885|885]] and [[Letter 891|891]] to [[Pyotr Jurgenson]], 1/13 July, 12/24 July, 18/30 July, 29 July/10 August, 2/14 August, 3/15 August and 8/20 August 1878.</ref>
<ref name="note4">See also [[Auer]]'s recollections in {{bib|1913/82}} (1913).</ref>
<ref name="note5">Letter from [[Pyotr Jurgenson]] to Tchaikovsky, 19/31 December 1881 — [[Klin]] House-Museum Archive.</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Concertante Pieces]]

Revision as of 19:45, 13 August 2022

The Sérénade mélancolique (Меланхолическая серенада) in B-flat minor, Opus 26 (TH 56 ; ČW 58) [1], was Tchaikovsky's first composition for solo violin with orchestra, written in February 1875.

Instrumentation

The piece is scored for solo violin and an orchestra consisting of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in F) + violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.

Duration

There is one movement: Andante (B-flat minor, 207 bars), which lasts approximately 10 minutes in performance.

Composition

On 13/25 February 1875, Tchaikovsky informed his brother Modest that "I've already written the violin piece, which I promised to Auer" [2]. It is unclear whether the piece had been orchestrated by this time, and there are no other references to the work in the composer's correspondence.

Arrangements

Tchaikovsky also arranged the Sérénade for violin and piano, probably in February 1875.

Performances

On 16/28 January 1876, Adolph Brodsky gave the premiere of the Sérénade mélancolique at the seventh symphony concert of the Russian Musical Society in Moscow, conducted by Nikolay Rubinstein, and he also gave the works' first performance in Saint Petersburg on 6/18 November 1876 at the first RMS symphony concert, conducted by Eduard Nápravník. Other notable performances in Tchaikovsky's lifetime were:

  • Paris, 3rd Russian symphony concert, 8/20 September 1878, Stanisław Barcewicz (violin), conducted by Nikolay Rubinstein
  • London, Crystal Palace, 28 April/10 May 1879, Pablo de Sarasate (violin), conducted by August Manns
  • Elberfeld, 29 September/11 October 1879, Pablo de Sarasate (violin), conducted by Wilhelm Posse
  • Mannheim, 3rd Academie-Concert, 13/25 November 1880, Émile Sauret (violin), conducted by Emil Pauer
  • Paris, 8th Concert Populaire, 23 November/5 December 1880, Paul Viardot (violin), conducted by Jules Pasdeloup
  • Saint Petersburg, 7th RMS symphony concert, 3/15 January 1881, Paul Viardot (violin), conducted by Eduard Nápravník
  • Erfurt, Musikverein Concert, 10/22 February 1881, Émile Sauret (violin).
  • Leipzig, 8th Euterpe Society concert, 1/13 February 1883, Iosif Kotek (violin)
  • Tiflis, 2nd RMS symphony concert, 2/14 April 1886, Konstantin Gorsky (violin), conducted by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
  • Vienna, Philharmonic Society concert, 11/23 November 1887, František Ondříček (violin), Ludwig Rottenberg (piano) — in Tchaikovsky's arrangement for violin and piano
  • Kiev, 3rd RMS symphony concert, 4/16 February 1889, Pavel Pustarnakov (violin)
  • Paris, 23rd Colonne symphony concert, 24 March/5 April 1891, Johannes Wolf (violin), conducted by Tchaikovsky
  • Warsaw, 2/14 January 1892, Stanisław Barcewicz (violin), conducted by Tchaikovsky

Publication

The Sérénade mélancolique was published by Pyotr Jurgenson in Moscow:

  • Arrangement for violin and piano, 9 pages. Plate 2742 — April 1876
  • Orchestral parts. Plate 2749 — February 1876
  • Full score, 29 pages. Plate 2750 — November 1879 [3].

In Tchaikovsky's Complete Collected Works the full score of the Sérénade was published in volume 30A, edited by Valentina Rachkovskaya (1949), and the violin-piano arrangement in volume 55A, edited by Ivan Shishov and Nikolay Shemanin (1946).

Autographs

The whereabouts of Tchaikovsky's autograph full score and piano arrangement are unknown.

Recordings

See: Discography

Dedication

The Sérénade was originally written for the violinist Leopold Auer, with whom Tchaikovsky had become acquainted in January 1875 [4]. However, in 1881, Tchaikovsky was offended by Leopold Auer's refusal to perform his Violin Concerto, and wanted to withdraw both the dedication of the concerto and of the Sérénade mélancolique. On 19/31 December 1881, Pyotr Jurgenson wrote to Tchaikovsky about the concerto: "We are deleting Auer's name from the title pages, but is it too late? You see, this is only on the new editions. The Serenade, I think, can be done quickly" [5]. However, the dedication to Auer was retained on Jurgenson's later editions of the Sérénade mélancolique.

External Links

Notes and References

  1. ↑ Entitled 'Melancholy Serenade' in ČW.
  2. ↑ See Letter 391 to Modest Tchaikovsky, 13/25 February 1875.
  3. ↑ See letters 865, 870, 872, 883, 885 and 891 to Pyotr Jurgenson, 1/13 July, 12/24 July, 18/30 July, 29 July/10 August, 2/14 August, 3/15 August and 8/20 August 1878.
  4. ↑ See also Auer's recollections in П. И. Чайковский в воспоминаниях (1913).
  5. ↑ Letter from Pyotr Jurgenson to Tchaikovsky, 19/31 December 1881 — Klin House-Museum Archive.
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