Letter 2213 and Brailov: Difference between pages

Tchaikovsky Research
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{{letterhead
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|Date=29 January/10 February–2/14 February 1883
|To=[[Pyotr Jurgenson]]
|Place=[[Paris]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph=[[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}} (a{{sup|3}}, No. 2408)
|Publication={{bib|1901/24|Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского ; том 2}} (1901), p. 571 (abridged)<br/>{{bib|1938/40|П. И. Чайковский. Переписка с П. И. Юргенсоном ; том 1}} (1938), p. 277–278<br/>{{bib|1970/86|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XII}} (1970), p. 46–48
}}
==Text and Translation==
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Brett Langston
|Original text={{right|''Париж''<br/>29 янв[аря] 1883}}
Милый друг! Твоё последнее письмо, проникнутое грустью, навело на меня тем большую меланхолию, что я и сам нахожусь под гнётом самых тяжёлых чувств. Это касается семейных дел, и тебе не интересно. Анатолию только не говори этого, — у него свои теперь тревоги и беспокойства. На душе настолько скверно, что даже писать не хочется. Напишу, когда будет об чем, а теперь только хотел сказать, что принимаю конечно, величайшее участие в твоих горестях.


{{right|''2 февраля''}}
'''''Braïliv''''' (Браїлів) is a town in the Zhmerinka district (Жмеринський район) and Vinnytsia oblast (Вінницька область) of Ukraine.  
Получил вчера «''Жизнь за Царя''» и, несмотря на то, что крайне затрудняюсь в настоящее время работать, постараюсь поскорее сделать. Скажи Алексееву, что ''унисоном'' нельзя ''учить петь''. Тема «''Славься''» такова, что если и заставлять петь все голоса одну мелодию, то все равно, инстинктивно, вся эта масса поющих собьётся на гармонию, подобно тому как и крестьяне никогда не поют песню (исключая запева) настоящим унисоном, а всегда с побочными голосами, образующими простые аккордные комбинации. И, кроме того, ''тема'' будет звучать плохо, жидко, слабо, если басы начнут где-то очень низко ''подпевать'', а не петь. Необходимо, чтобы хор был ''хором''. Другое дело, если к ''учёному'' хору пристанет весь народ, который будет стоять на площади, — им придётся петь как попало, и тогда те, у кого слух получше, непременно попадут в свой диапазон и будут петь что следует, а у кого похуже, те пускай подпевают ''тему''. Я устрою ''хоровые'' голоса так, что будет очень легко выучить побочные голоса. Жаль, что я не догадался выписать печатную партитуру «''Жизнь за Царя''», если б она была у меня под рукой, эта работа была бы мне гораздо легче, ибо теперь я должен сам оркестровать, применяясь по воспоминанию к подлинной оркестровке.


Я сегодня телеграфировал тебе о 150 р[ублей]. Когда-нибудь, при свидании, объясню тебе, почему мне пришлось сделать эту трату, совершенно неизбежную. Анатолию об этом ни слова.
During Tchaikovsky's lifetime it was known as '''''Brailov''''' (Браилов), and formed part of the Vinnitsa district (Винницкий уезд) in the Podolsk province (Подольская губерния) of the Russian Empire.


По совету Модеста и Направника, которому я посылал моё либретто, я решился первое действие «Мазепы» разделить на две картины, как оно и было предположено в сценариуме. Поэтому мне необходима та тетрадь (или те 2 тетради партитур), где после сцены похищения Марии и ухода Мазепы начинается № не помню какой на слова: «''Не гроза небеса''» и т. д. Это женский хор с маленьким ариозо матери. Пришли мне эту тетрадь или две тетради (если конец предыдущего номера и начало хор а находятся в разных тетрадях). Мне хочется поскорей это сделать.
==Tchaikovsky in Brailov==
In 1868, the railway engineer [[Karl von Meck]] purchased an estate at Brailov. After his death in 1876 this was occupied by his widow, [[Nadezhda von Meck]], who invited Tchaikovsky to reside at Brailov while she was absent. The composer stayed there on several occasions between 1878 and 1880:


Засим до свиданья, обнимаю тебя, милый друг.
{| class="wikitable"
{{right|Твой П. Чайковский}}
|-
Разумеется, бессмысленно тратить 5000 на комнату, в которой нет нужды.
! width=20%|From
! width=20%|Until
! width=60%|Notes
|-
| 17/29 May 1878
| 30 May/11 June 1878
| On this first productive visit he composed the ''[[Souvenir d'un lieu cher]]'' (three pieces for violin with piano, dedicated to Brailov), and worked on the [[Six Romances, Op. 38]] and the ''[[Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom]]''. "I am living in a palace in the literal sense of the word...", he wrote during his first visit to Brailov; "the furnishings are luxurious, apart from polite and affectionately obliging servants I see no human figures and no-one comes to make my acquaintance, the strolls are charming, and at my disposal I have carriages, horses, a library, several pianos, a harmonium, a mass of sheet music—in a word, what could be better?" <ref name="note1"/>.
|-
| 11/23 August 1878
| around 17/29 August 1878
| Working on the ''Scherzo'' from the [[Suite No. 1]].
|-
| 3/15 May 1879
| 13/25 May 1879
| He studied the full score of [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''Lohengrin'', while working on the orchestration of his own opera ''[[The Maid of Orleans]]''.
|-
| 2/14 July 1880
| 8/20 July 1880
| His last visit to Brailov was a relaxing one, without the need to compose. "I'm simply wallowing in an ocean of happy sensations" <ref name="note2"/>.
|}


|Translated text={{right|''[[Paris]]''<br/>29 January 1883}}
The house is now a museum dedicated to Tchaikovsky and his patroness.
Dear friend! Your last letter, filled with sadness, stirred within me a greater melancholy, as I myself am burdened with the most difficult feelings. This relates to family matters, and is of no interest to you. Just don't mention this to [[Anatoly]] — he currently has his own worries and concerns. My spirits are so poor that I don't even want to write. I'll write when I can, but for now I just wanted to assure you that, of course, I share your utmost sorrows.


{{right|''2 February''}}
==Gallery==
Yesterday I received "''A Life for the Tsar''" and, notwithstanding the fact that I'm finding it extremely difficult to work at present, I shall aim to do it as quickly as possible. Tell Alekseyev that ''unison singing'' cannot be ''learned''. The "''[[Glory (Glinka)|Glory]]''" theme is such that if every voice is compelled to sing one melody, then still, instinctively, a whole mass of singers will lapse into harmonies, in the same way that peasants never sing a song (unless individually) in genuine unison, but invariably have secondary voices producing simple combinations of chords. And, furthermore, the ''theme'' will sound feeble, poor and weak if somewhere a low bass ''accompaniment'' starts up, rather than singing the tune. The chorus must be a ''choir''. As to whether the crowd standing in the square follow the ''official'' choir, that's another matter — they will have to make do as best they can, and while those with better ears will naturally find their own diapason and sing accordingly, let the rest sing along with the ''theme''. I shall arrange the ''choir''{{'}}s voices so that it will be very easy to discern the secondary voices. It's a pity that I didn't think to have the printed score of "''A Life for the Tsar''" copied out, as this task would have been much easier for me if I had this to hand, because now I must orchestrate it myself, adapting the original orchestration from memory.
All the photographs below were taken in February 2020. Click on an image for more details.
<gallery>
File:Brailov 01.jpg
File:Brailov 02.jpg
File:Brailov 03.jpg
File:Brailov 04.jpg
File:Brailov 05.jpg
File:Brailov 06.jpg
File:Brailov 07.jpg
File:Brailov 08.jpg
File:Brailov 09.jpg
</gallery>


I sent you a telegram today about the 150 rubles. When we meet sometime, I'll explain to you why it was absolutely unavoidable for me to spend this. Not a word about this to [[Anatoly]].
==Bibliography==
* {{bib|1990/151}} (1990)


On the advice of [[Modest]] and [[Nápravník]], to whom I sent my libretto, I've decided to divide the first act of "[[Mazepa]]" into two scenes, as proposed in the scenario. Therefore, I require the noteboook (or both notebooks of the score), where the scene after Mariya's abduction and Mazepa's departure (I don't remember the number) starting with the words: "''No heavenly storm''" etc. This is a female chorus with a little arioso for the mother. Send me this notebook, or both notebooks (if the end of the preceding number and the start of the chorus are to be found in different notebooks). I want to do this as soon as possible.
==External Links==
* [[wikipedia:ru:Браилов (посёлок городского типа)|Wikipedia (Russian)]]
* [[wikipedia:uk:Браїлів (селище)|Wikipedia (Ukrainian)]]


Whereupon, until we meet, I embrace you, dear friend.
==Notes and References==
{{right|Yours P. Tchaikovsky}}
<references>
It is of course unthinkable to spend 5000 on a room that isn't required.
<ref name="note1">[[Letter 831]] to [[Aleksandra Davydova]], 18/30 May 1878.</ref>
}}
<ref name="note2">[[Letter 1531]] to [[Modest Tchaikovsky]], 8/20–9/21 July 1880.</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Places]] [[Category:Ukraine]]

Latest revision as of 22:37, 31 December 2022


Braïliv (Браїлів) is a town in the Zhmerinka district (Жмеринський район) and Vinnytsia oblast (Вінницька область) of Ukraine.

During Tchaikovsky's lifetime it was known as Brailov (Браилов), and formed part of the Vinnitsa district (Винницкий уезд) in the Podolsk province (Подольская губерния) of the Russian Empire.

Tchaikovsky in Brailov

In 1868, the railway engineer Karl von Meck purchased an estate at Brailov. After his death in 1876 this was occupied by his widow, Nadezhda von Meck, who invited Tchaikovsky to reside at Brailov while she was absent. The composer stayed there on several occasions between 1878 and 1880:

From Until Notes
17/29 May 1878 30 May/11 June 1878 On this first productive visit he composed the Souvenir d'un lieu cher (three pieces for violin with piano, dedicated to Brailov), and worked on the Six Romances, Op. 38 and the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. "I am living in a palace in the literal sense of the word...", he wrote during his first visit to Brailov; "the furnishings are luxurious, apart from polite and affectionately obliging servants I see no human figures and no-one comes to make my acquaintance, the strolls are charming, and at my disposal I have carriages, horses, a library, several pianos, a harmonium, a mass of sheet music—in a word, what could be better?" [1].
11/23 August 1878 around 17/29 August 1878 Working on the Scherzo from the Suite No. 1.
3/15 May 1879 13/25 May 1879 He studied the full score of Wagner's Lohengrin, while working on the orchestration of his own opera The Maid of Orleans.
2/14 July 1880 8/20 July 1880 His last visit to Brailov was a relaxing one, without the need to compose. "I'm simply wallowing in an ocean of happy sensations" [2].

The house is now a museum dedicated to Tchaikovsky and his patroness.

Gallery

All the photographs below were taken in February 2020. Click on an image for more details.

  • Brailov 01.jpg
  • Brailov 02.jpg
  • Brailov 03.jpg
  • Brailov 04.jpg
  • Brailov 05.jpg
  • Brailov 06.jpg
  • Brailov 07.jpg
  • Brailov 08.jpg
  • Brailov 09.jpg

Bibliography

External Links

Notes and References

  1. ↑ Letter 831 to Aleksandra Davydova, 18/30 May 1878.
  2. ↑ Letter 1531 to Modest Tchaikovsky, 8/20–9/21 July 1880.
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