Symphonic Studies (Schumann)

Tchaikovsky Research
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In 1863 or 1864 Tchaikovsky made an orchestral arrangement (TH 169 ; ČW 339) of two variations from Robert Schumann's Symphonic Studies for piano (Op. 13) [1].

Instrumentation

Scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in A), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in A, D), 2 trumpets (in D), alto trombone, tenor trombone, bass trombone + 2 timpani + violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.

Movements and Duration

  1. Adagio (A minor, 20 bars).
  2. Allegro brillante (D major, 190 bars).

Together the two movements last around 8 minutes in performance.

History

The arrangement was made in 1863 or 1864 during Tchaikovsky's years at the [[Saint Petersburg] Conservatory, evidently as a student assignment set by Anton Rubinstein.

Performances

Notes on the manuscript score suggest that the work may have been performed by a student orchestra at the conservatory shortly after its completion

Publication

The arrangement was published for the first time in 1967 in volume 58 of Tchaikovsky's Complete Collected Works, edited by Irina Iordan.

Autographs

Tchaikovsky's manuscript score is now preserved in the Klin House-Museum Archive (a1, No. 134) [2].

Recordings

See: Discography

Related Works

The Études symphoniques for piano by Robert Schumann (1810–1856) were written in the period 1834–37, and revised in 1852 as Études en forme de variations. Tchaikovsky orchestrated Etudes XI (Con espressione, B major) and XII (Allegro brillante, D-flat major) from the original version (corresponding to the ninth variation and finale from the revised edition).

External Links

Notes and References

  1. Entitled "Études symphoniques en forme de variations" in ČW.
  2. The manuscript score also includes Tchaikovsky's draft programme for The Storm overture, and sketches for the Theme with Variations in A minor for piano, both of which post-date this arrangement.