Letter 3587 and Slavonic March: Difference between pages

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{{letterhead
Tchaikovsky's '''''Slavonic March''''' (Славянский марш) in B-flat minor, [[Op.]] 31 ([[TH]] 45 ; [[ČW]] 42), sometimes known by the French title '''''Marche slave''''', was composed and orchestrated in late September/early October 1876 in [[Moscow]] for a charity concert in aid of victims of the war between Serbia and Turkey.
|Date=7/19 June 1888
|To=[[Vladimir Nápravník]]
|Place=[[Frolovskoye]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph={{locunknown}}
|Publication={{bib|1959/21|Е. Ф. Направник. Автобиографические, творческие материалы, документы, письма}} (1959), p. 192<br/>{{bib|1974/53|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XIV}} (1974), p. 451–452.
|Notes=Manuscript copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}}
}}
==Text==
Based on a handwritten copy in the [[Klin]] House-Museum Archive, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=
|Original text={{right|Село ''Фроловское''. 7 июня [18]88}}
{{centre|Милый, дорогой Володя!}}
Меня очень тронуло, что, едва устроившись на новом месте, ты вспомнил о старом друге, клинском отшельнике. Очень понимаю испытываемые тобой в первое время на чужбине чувства, а также живую потребность в общении с Родиной. Никто болезненнее и мучительнее меня не страдает от этого чувства—но предупреждаю тебя, что оно в скором времени пройдёт, особенно если здоровье мамы будет восстанавливаться, в чём я совершенно уверен.


После того как мы с тобой в последний раз виделись, я прожил около 2 недель в деревне; засим более недели провёл в Москве по делам, так сказать, службы, ибо я присутствовал на консерваторских экзаменах. С тех пор опять нахожусь в деревне и живу самым прав ильным образом жизни. Работаю довольно усидчиво, а именно над симфонией, которая, если не ошибаюсь, будет не хуже прежних. А может быть, это мне только кажется; дай-то Бог, чтобы так, но меня в последнее время постоянно преследует мысль, что я исписался, что голова пуста, что пора бы кончить и т. д. Погода у нас до сих пор стояла отвратительная, и, вероятно, ей я обязан тем, что и здоровье моё неважно; часто простужаюсь, и случалось иногда по целым дням не быть в состоянии работать. Модест с Колей были у меня, провели 2 дня и уехали на Кавказ; теперь они, вероятно, уже там, на месте, т. е. в Боржоме.
==Instrumentation==
The March is scored for an orchestra comprising 2 piccolos, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in F), 2 cornets (in B-flat), 2 trumpets (in B-flat), 3 trombones, tuba + 3 timpani, military drum, cymbals, bass drum, tam tam + violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.


Довольно усердно занимаюсь я садоводством, т. е. понасажал из купленных в Москве горшков массу цветов в клумбы, да кроме того, множество посеял и с любовью и участием слежу за бедненькими произрастаниями, очень пострадавшими от дурной Погоды.
==Duration==
There is one movement: Moderato in modo di Marcia funebre (B-flat minor)—Più mosso. Allegro (B-flat major, 240 bars), lasting around 10 to 12 minutes in performance.


Ведёшь ли ты дневник? Я тебе самым энергическим образом советую ежедневно вкратце записывать все пережитое в течение дня. Ты не можешь себе представить. до чего сильно будет твоё наслаждение в старости, когда дневник день за день будет воскрешать тебе прошлое!
==Composition==
The March was commissioned by the director of the Russian Musical Society, [[Nikolay Rubinstein]], for a concert in aid of victims of the conflict between Serbia and Turkey <ref name="note1"/>. Tchaikovsky received the request around 20 September/2 October 1876, and the completed full score is dated 25 September/7 October.


Крепко поцелуй за меня ручку у милой твоей мамаши, которой посылаю тысячу самых нежных приветствий. Обнимаю тебя, голубчик Володенька.
During its composition and up to the time of publication, the composer himself referred to the March as the ''Serbo-Russian'': the autograph inscription on the title page of the manuscript score reads: "Serbo-Russian March on Slavonic folk themes" <ref name="note2"/>.
{{right|Твой П. Чайковский}}


|Translated text=
==Arrangements==
}}
Tchaikovsky arranged the March for solo piano simultaneously with the full score.
 
==Performances==
The first performance of the March took place on 5/17 November 1876 in [[Moscow]], conducted by [[Nikolay Rubinstein]] at the first symphony concert of the Russian Musical Society, in aid of the Slavonic Charitable Society. The March had great success and was repeated by popular demand <ref name="note3"/>. Tchaikovsky wrote about this concert on 8/20 November 1876 to [[Aleksandra Davydova]]: "Last Saturday my ''Serbo-Russian'' march was played here for the first time, which produced a whole storm of patriotic enthusiasm" <ref name="note4"/>.
 
Other notable early performances included:
* [[Saint Petersburg]], Mariinsky Theatre, charity concert, 26 December 1876/7 January 1877, conducted by [[Eduard Nápravník]]
* [[Moscow]], Bolshoi Theatre concert, 13/25 February 1877, conducted by Tchaikovsky
* Manchester, Hallé Orchestra concert, 19 February/3 March 1881, conducted by Charles Hallé
* Boston, Music Hall, 23 February/7 March 1883, conducted by [[George Henschel]]
* [[London]], 5th London Symphony Concert, 1/13 December 1887, conducted by [[George Henschel]]
* [[Paris]], 23rd [[Colonne]] symphony concert, 24 March/5 April 1891, conducted by Tchaikovsky
* [[Moscow]], [[Aleksandr Ziloti]]'s concert, 6/18 November 1891, conducted by Tchaikovsky
* [[Saint Petersburg]], Charity Concert, 1/13 December 1891, conducted by Tchaikovsky
* Amsterdam, Concertgebouw, matinee concert, 18/30 July 1893, conducted by Jean Renard.
 
==Publication==
In October 1876, the March was printed by [[Pyotr Jurgenson]] in the author's arrangement for piano under the title ''Slavonic March''. The same publisher also printed an arrangement for piano duet by [[Aleksandra Batalina]] in February 1879; the full score in February 1880; and the orchestral parts in December 1887.
 
In 1889, a new edition of the full score and parts was produced <ref name="note5"/>, and in May 1893 an arrangement of the March for two pianos and eight hands by [[Eduard Langer]] was published.
 
The full score and Tchaikovsky's solo piano arrangement of the Slavonic March were published in volumes 24 (1961) and 50Б (1965) respectively of the composer's ''[[Complete Collected Works]]'', edited by Irina Iordan. The statements of the anthem 'God Save the Tsar' were replaced with other music, with the original text confined to footnotes and appendices.
 
==Autographs==
Tchaikovsky's manuscripts of the full score {{TOW2|slavyanskiy-marsh-na-narodno-slavyanskie-temy-2017-08-17|(ф. 88, No. 86)}} and solo piano arrangement {{TOW2|slavyanskiy-marsh-na-narodno-slavyanskie-temy|(ф. 88, No. 87)}} are preserved in the {{RUS-Mcm}} in [[Moscow]].
 
==Recordings==
{{reclink}}
 
==Related Works==
Tchaikovsky made use of authentic Serbian folksongs in his Slavonic March, which he marked on the manuscript of the piano arrangement:
* ''Sunce jarko, ne sijaš jednako'' [The bright sun doesn't shine everywhere], from bar 5
* ''Prag je ovo milog Srba'' [On the borders of our beloved Serbia], from bar 86
* ''Jer puščani prah ne zadaje njemu strah'' [Because he does not fear their guns], the fourth section of the song ''Радо иде Србин у војнике'' [The Serb is happy to go to war], from bar 104.
The central section and coda (bars 123–134, 205–219) quote from the Russian anthem ''God Save the Tsar'' (Боже Цапя храни) by Aleksey Lvov (1833).
 
==External Links==
* {{imslpscore|Slavonic_March,_Op.31_(Tchaikovsky,_Pyotr)|Slavonic March}}
 
==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">See [[Letter 862]] to [[Nadezhda von Meck]], 24 June/6 August 1878.</ref>
<ref name="note2">See also [[Letter 862]] to [[Nadezhda von Meck]], 24 June/6 August 1878.</ref>
<ref name="note3">See [[Letter 1414]] to [[Karl Davydov]], 25 January/6 February 1880.</ref>
<ref name="note4">[[Letter 513]] to [[Aleksandra Davydova]], 8/20 November 1876.</ref>
<ref name="note5">See [[Letter 4361]] to [[Pyotr Jurgenson]], 30 March/11 April 1891.</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Orchestral Music]]

Revision as of 21:33, 20 January 2023

Tchaikovsky's Slavonic March (Славянский марш) in B-flat minor, Op. 31 (TH 45 ; ČW 42), sometimes known by the French title Marche slave, was composed and orchestrated in late September/early October 1876 in Moscow for a charity concert in aid of victims of the war between Serbia and Turkey.

Instrumentation

The March is scored for an orchestra comprising 2 piccolos, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in F), 2 cornets (in B-flat), 2 trumpets (in B-flat), 3 trombones, tuba + 3 timpani, military drum, cymbals, bass drum, tam tam + violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.

Duration

There is one movement: Moderato in modo di Marcia funebre (B-flat minor)—Più mosso. Allegro (B-flat major, 240 bars), lasting around 10 to 12 minutes in performance.

Composition

The March was commissioned by the director of the Russian Musical Society, Nikolay Rubinstein, for a concert in aid of victims of the conflict between Serbia and Turkey [1]. Tchaikovsky received the request around 20 September/2 October 1876, and the completed full score is dated 25 September/7 October.

During its composition and up to the time of publication, the composer himself referred to the March as the Serbo-Russian: the autograph inscription on the title page of the manuscript score reads: "Serbo-Russian March on Slavonic folk themes" [2].

Arrangements

Tchaikovsky arranged the March for solo piano simultaneously with the full score.

Performances

The first performance of the March took place on 5/17 November 1876 in Moscow, conducted by Nikolay Rubinstein at the first symphony concert of the Russian Musical Society, in aid of the Slavonic Charitable Society. The March had great success and was repeated by popular demand [3]. Tchaikovsky wrote about this concert on 8/20 November 1876 to Aleksandra Davydova: "Last Saturday my Serbo-Russian march was played here for the first time, which produced a whole storm of patriotic enthusiasm" [4].

Other notable early performances included:

  • Saint Petersburg, Mariinsky Theatre, charity concert, 26 December 1876/7 January 1877, conducted by Eduard Nápravník
  • Moscow, Bolshoi Theatre concert, 13/25 February 1877, conducted by Tchaikovsky
  • Manchester, Hallé Orchestra concert, 19 February/3 March 1881, conducted by Charles Hallé
  • Boston, Music Hall, 23 February/7 March 1883, conducted by George Henschel
  • London, 5th London Symphony Concert, 1/13 December 1887, conducted by George Henschel
  • Paris, 23rd Colonne symphony concert, 24 March/5 April 1891, conducted by Tchaikovsky
  • Moscow, Aleksandr Ziloti's concert, 6/18 November 1891, conducted by Tchaikovsky
  • Saint Petersburg, Charity Concert, 1/13 December 1891, conducted by Tchaikovsky
  • Amsterdam, Concertgebouw, matinee concert, 18/30 July 1893, conducted by Jean Renard.

Publication

In October 1876, the March was printed by Pyotr Jurgenson in the author's arrangement for piano under the title Slavonic March. The same publisher also printed an arrangement for piano duet by Aleksandra Batalina in February 1879; the full score in February 1880; and the orchestral parts in December 1887.

In 1889, a new edition of the full score and parts was produced [5], and in May 1893 an arrangement of the March for two pianos and eight hands by Eduard Langer was published.

The full score and Tchaikovsky's solo piano arrangement of the Slavonic March were published in volumes 24 (1961) and 50Б (1965) respectively of the composer's Complete Collected Works, edited by Irina Iordan. The statements of the anthem 'God Save the Tsar' were replaced with other music, with the original text confined to footnotes and appendices.

Autographs

Tchaikovsky's manuscripts of the full score (ф. 88, No. 86) [view] and solo piano arrangement (ф. 88, No. 87) [view] are preserved in the Russian National Museum of Music in Moscow.

Recordings

See: Discography

Related Works

Tchaikovsky made use of authentic Serbian folksongs in his Slavonic March, which he marked on the manuscript of the piano arrangement:

  • Sunce jarko, ne sijaš jednako [The bright sun doesn't shine everywhere], from bar 5
  • Prag je ovo milog Srba [On the borders of our beloved Serbia], from bar 86
  • Jer puščani prah ne zadaje njemu strah [Because he does not fear their guns], the fourth section of the song Радо иде Србин у војнике [The Serb is happy to go to war], from bar 104.

The central section and coda (bars 123–134, 205–219) quote from the Russian anthem God Save the Tsar (Боже Цапя храни) by Aleksey Lvov (1833).

External Links

Notes and References

  1. ↑ See Letter 862 to Nadezhda von Meck, 24 June/6 August 1878.
  2. ↑ See also Letter 862 to Nadezhda von Meck, 24 June/6 August 1878.
  3. ↑ See Letter 1414 to Karl Davydov, 25 January/6 February 1880.
  4. ↑ Letter 513 to Aleksandra Davydova, 8/20 November 1876.
  5. ↑ See Letter 4361 to Pyotr Jurgenson, 30 March/11 April 1891.
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