Letter 11 and Nikolay Rubinstein: Difference between pages

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{{letterhead
{{picture|file=Nikolay Rubinstein.jpg|caption='''Nikolay Rubinstein''' (1835-1881)}}
|Date=23 November/5 December 1850
Russian pianist, conductor and teacher (b. 2/14 June 1835 in [[Moscow]]; d. 23 March 1881 {{NS}} in [[Paris]]), born '''''Nikolay Grigoryevich Rubinshteyn''''' (Николай Григорьевич Рубинштейн).
|To=[[Aleksandra Tchaikovskaya]] and [[Ilya Tchaikovsky]]
|Place=[[Saint Petersburg]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph=[[Saint Petersburg]] (Russia): {{RUS-SPsc}} (ф. 834, ед. хр. 33, л. 5–6)
|Publication={{bib|1940/210|П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным ; том 1}} (1940), p. 13–14 <br/>{{bib|1959/50|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том V}} (1959), p. 15–16
|Notes=Dated on the basis of a postscript added to this letter by Tchaikovsky's guardian, Modest Vakar, which is dated 23 November 1850 <ref name="note1"/>.
}}
==Text and Translation==
Spelling and punctuation errors in the original text have not been indicated.
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Luis Sundkvist
|Original text=Милые и прекрасные Папаша и Мамаша. Целую вас крепко мои милые в ручки, ножки и всё тело ваше.


Прошлое воскресение Николенька здесь не был оттого что Коля Вакар очень болен, у него сделалась нервическая горячка и оттого теперь у Модеста Алексеевича очень скучно.
==Tchaikovsky and Nikolay Rubinstein==
The younger brother of [[Anton Rubinstein]] (1829–1894), Nikolay's formative years were spent in [[Moscow]], where his merchant father Grigory had recently opened a small pencil factory, and Nikolay studied piano with his mother from the age of four. In 1844 he was taken to [[Berlin]] to study under Theodor Kullak (1818–1882) and Siegfried Dehn (1799–1858); he made his debut in November 1843 aged just eight, in one of his brother [[Anton Rubinstein|Anton]]'s concerts.


Вот уж шесть недель как я у Модеста Алексеевича и надеюсь что будущее Воскресенье меня потребуют в приготовительный класс. Мне всё-таки ужасно хочется поцеловать ваши ручки мои прекра[сные] Папачка и Мамачка и потому с нетерпением жду будущего счастливого для меня и Коле Февраля.  
From 1851 to 1855 Nikolay studied law and medicine at [[Moscow]] University, where he became increasingly popular within the city's literary-artistic circles. In 1860, he was appointed head of the [[Moscow]] branch of the Russian Musical Society, where he arranged (and conducted) symphonic, chamber and choral concerts, which became generally popular due to their affordable ticket prices. In October 1860 he established the RMS music classes, which led to the opening of the [[Moscow]] Conservatory in 1866, Nikolay serving as its director and piano professor. It was on the recommendation of his brother [[Anton Rubinstein|Anton]] that Nikolay appointed Tchaikovsky as professor of music theory at the new establishment, encouraged his musical abilities, and even gave him lodgings in his own apartment.


Перед прошедшим воскресение был у нас дядинька Пётр Петрович, который приходил с Илинькой нас увидеть. Он такой добрый старичок! Прошлою неделю начался пост и вы верно поститесь мои Ангелы потому что в те счастливые времена когда я был с вами вы всегда это делали; и я теперь вспоминаю с каким удовольствием и радостью мы получали от вас ёлку но между Сашей, Полей, Малей, Катей и Миной я не буду участвовать, но по крайней мере буду об этом вспоминать. Поцелуйте за меня мои прекрасные Зину, Сашу, Полю, Толю и Модю и милых кузин. Кланяйтесь также Тёте Лизе, Сестрице, Настасье Петровне и Немкам. Когда будете писать M[ademois]elle Fanny, то пожалуйста поклонитесь ей от меня. С нетерпением ожидаю первого вашего пись[ма], я ещё не имел этой счастливой минуты чтоб поцеловать бумажку на которой были ваши ручки.  
Rubinstein did a great deal to promote Tchaikovsky's music, and between 1866 and 1880 he conducted the premieres of almost every orchestral composition the latter had written. The young composer was very grateful for Rubinstein's support, dedicating more of his works to him than to anyone else (see below). There is no evidence to substantiate the assertion that Tchaikovsky originally intended to dedicate his [[First Piano Concerto]] to Rubinstein, but five years later he did receive the dedication of the [[Second Piano Concerto]].


Целую миллионы раз ваши ручки и прошу вашего благословления. Ваш сын,
Tchaikovsky was deeply upset to learn of Nikolay's sudden and unexpected death from tuberculosis in [[Paris]] on 23 March 1881, aged just 45, and he wrote an account of his passing for the Russian newspapers <ref name="note1"/>. The [[Piano Trio]], Op. 50, begun some months later to commemorate his friend, is dedicated "to the memory of a great artist".
{{right|Пётр Чайковский}}


|Translated text=Dear and wonderful [[Papasha]] and [[Mamasha]]. I kiss you warmly, my dear ones, on your hands, feet, and your whole bodies.
==Dedications==
Tchaikovsky dedicated the following compositions to Nikolay Rubinstein:
* [[Symphony No. 1]] in G minor ("Winter Daydreams"), Op. 13 (1866–68)
* ''[[Scherzo à la russe]]'' and ''[[Impromptu in E-flat minor|Impromptu]]'', for piano, Op. 1 (1867) — "À mon ami Nicolas Rubinstein".
* [[Serenade for Nikolay Rubinstein's Name-Day]], TH 43 (1872)
* ''So What?'' — No. 5 of the [[Six Romances, Op. 16]] (1872–73)
* [[Piano Concerto No. 2]] in G major, Op. 44 (1879–80)
* [[Piano Trio]] in A minor ("In memory of a great artist"), Op. 50 (1881–82) — dedicated posthumously.


Last Sunday [[Nikolenka]] didn't come here because Kolya Vakar is very ill: he has a nervous fever, and because of this it is now very depressing at Modest Alekseyevich's <ref name="note2"/>.
==Correspondence with Tchaikovsky==
19 letters from Tchaikovsky to Nikolay Rubinstein have survived, dating from 1870 to 1880, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:
* [[Letter 193]] –  18/30 May 1870, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 281]]''' –  1872, from [[Moscow]] (addressed jointly to Rubinstein and [[Karl Albrecht]])
* '''[[Letter 318]]''' –  early/mid October 1873, from [[Moscow]]
* [[Letter 617]] –  11/23 October 1877, from [[Clarens]]
* [[Letter 623]] –  20 October/1 November 1877, from [[Clarens]]
* [[Letter 630]] –  27 October/8 November 1877, from [[Clarens]]
* [[Letter 642]] –  9/21 November 1877, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 652]] –  21 November/3 December 1877, from [[Vienna]]
* '''[[Letter 658]]''' –  22 November/4 December or 23 November/5 December 1877, from [[Vienna]]
* [[Letter 675]] –  4/16 December 1877, from [[Venice]]
* '''[[Letter 699]]''' –  21 December 1877/2 January 1878, from [[San Remo]]
* '''[[Letter 702]]''' –  23 December 1877/4 January 1878, from [[San Remo]]
* '''[[Letter 713]]''' –  1/13 January 1878, from [[San Remo]]
* '''[[Letter 727]]''' –  14/26 January 1878, from [[San Remo]]
* '''[[Letter 745]]''' –  30 January/11 February 1878, from [[San Remo]]
* [[Letter 814]] –  18/30 April 1878, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 951]]''' –  26 October/7 November 1878, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 1329]] –  8/20 November 1879, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 1495]] –  13/25 May 1880, from [[Kamenka]]


It is now six weeks that I have been living at Modest Alekseyevich's, and I hope that next Sunday I will be asked back into the preparatory class. All the same, I awfully want to kiss your hands, my wonderful [[Papachka]] and [[Mamachka]], and so I am impatiently awaiting next February, which will be so happy for me and [[Kolya]].  
4 letters from Nikolay Rubinstein to Tchaikovsky, dating from 1877 to 1880, are preserved in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]] (a{{sup|4}}, Nos. 3834–3837).


On the Sunday before last, [[Pyotr Petrovich Tchaikovsky|Uncle Pyotr Petrovich]] was here: he came with Ilyinka <ref name="note3"/> to see us. He is such a kind little old man! Last week the fast began, and you are probably fasting, my Angels, because in those happy times when I was with you, you always did this; and I remember now with what pleasure and joy we would receive the Christmas-tree from you[.] [Although this time] I shall not be taking part together with [[Sasha]], [[Polya]], [[Malya]], Katya and Mina <ref name="note4"/>, still I shall at least remember that. Kiss for me my wonderful [[Zina]], [[Sasha]], [[Polya]], [[Tolya]] and [[Modya]], and my dear cousins. Give my regards also to [[Aunt Liza]], Sestritsa <ref name="note5"/>, Nastasya Petrovna <ref name="note6"/> and the German ladies. When you write to Mademoiselle [[Fanny]], please do send her my regards. I am impatiently awaiting your first letter; I still haven't had that happy moment when I can kiss the piece of paper on which your hands have been.
==Bibliography==
* {{bib|1897/18}} (1897)
* {{bib|1924/40}} (1924)
* {{bib|1937/5}} (1937)
* {{bib|1937/58}} (1937)
* {{bib|1983/95}} (1983)
* {{bib|1999/138}} (1999)
* {{bib|2003/38}} (2003)
* {{bib|2006/11}} (2006)
* {{bib|2012/13}} (2012)
* {{bib|2012/17}} (2012)


I kiss your hands a million times and ask for your blessing. Your son,
==External Links==
{{right|Pyotr Tchaikovsky}}
* [[wikipedia:Nikolai_Rubinstein|Wikipedia]]
}}
* {{viaf|52512631}}


==Notes and References==
==Notes and References==
<references>
<references>
<ref name="note1">Note by Vladimir Zhdanov in {{bib|1940/210|П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным ; том 1}} (1940), p. 660.</ref>
<ref name="note1">See ''[[The Last Days of N. G. Rubinstein's Life]]'' (TH 315).</ref>
<ref name="note2">Shortly after young Pyotr's enrolment in the School of Jurisprudence's preparatory class in October 1850, there had been an outbreak of scarlet fever in the school, and Modest Alekseyevich Vakar, a friend of [[Ilya Tchaikovsky]]'s who had agreed to act as Pyotr's guardian, decided to take him into his house until the epidemic was over. Pyotr's brother [[Nikolay]], or 'Nikolenka', (who was two years older) was also a boarder in [[Saint Petersburg]], though not at the School of Jurisprudence, but at the city's Mining College. On Sundays and other holidays he was allowed to come to the Vakars' house to visit his brother. Nikolay, or Kolya, was the five-year-old son of Modest Vakar. Shortly after Pyotr joined the Vakar household Kolya contracted scarlet fever (evidently brought into the house by Pyotr), but his parents pretended that it was just measles or a "nervous fever" so that Pyotr would not start reproaching himself. Little Kolya's death the following day after this letter was written proved a traumatic experience for the future composer.</ref>
<ref name="note3">The composer's cousin, Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky (1837–1891), the eldest son of his uncle [[Pyotr Petrovich Tchaikovsky]].</ref>
<ref name="note4">Vilgelmina ('Mina') and Yekaterina ('Katya') were younger sisters of Tchaikovsky's cousin [[Amaliya Schobert]] (later Litke).</ref>
<ref name="note5">'Sestritsa', or 'little sister', was the affectionate name for Tchaikovsky's cousin, Anastasiya Vasilyevna Popova (1807–1894), the daughter of [[Ilya Tchaikovsky]]'s older sister [[Yevdokiya Popova]].</ref>
<ref name="note6">Anastasya Petrovna Petrova (1824–1893) had joined the Tchaikovsky family in [[Alapayevsk]] on 24 November/6 December 1849 as a governess, specifically with the task of preparing Pyotr for the School of Jurisprudence in [[Saint Petersburg]]. After spending some three years with the Tchaikovskys she worked as a governess in various other families, but returned to her first employer in 1859, when she took charge of the twins, [[Anatoly]] and [[Modest]].</ref>  
</references>
</references>
{{DEFAULTSORT:Letter 0011}}
[[Category:People|Rubinstein, Nikolay]]
[[Category:Conductors|Rubinstein, Nikolay]]
[[Category:Correspondents|Rubinstein, Nikolay]]
[[Category:Dedicatees|Rubinstein, Nikolay]]
[[Category:Friends|Rubinstein, Nikolay]]
[[Category:Pianists|Rubinstein, Nikolay]]
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 14:59, 13 February 2024

Nikolay Rubinstein (1835-1881)

Russian pianist, conductor and teacher (b. 2/14 June 1835 in Moscow; d. 23 March 1881 [N.S.] in Paris), born Nikolay Grigoryevich Rubinshteyn (Николай Григорьевич Рубинштейн).

Tchaikovsky and Nikolay Rubinstein

The younger brother of Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894), Nikolay's formative years were spent in Moscow, where his merchant father Grigory had recently opened a small pencil factory, and Nikolay studied piano with his mother from the age of four. In 1844 he was taken to Berlin to study under Theodor Kullak (1818–1882) and Siegfried Dehn (1799–1858); he made his debut in November 1843 aged just eight, in one of his brother Anton's concerts.

From 1851 to 1855 Nikolay studied law and medicine at Moscow University, where he became increasingly popular within the city's literary-artistic circles. In 1860, he was appointed head of the Moscow branch of the Russian Musical Society, where he arranged (and conducted) symphonic, chamber and choral concerts, which became generally popular due to their affordable ticket prices. In October 1860 he established the RMS music classes, which led to the opening of the Moscow Conservatory in 1866, Nikolay serving as its director and piano professor. It was on the recommendation of his brother Anton that Nikolay appointed Tchaikovsky as professor of music theory at the new establishment, encouraged his musical abilities, and even gave him lodgings in his own apartment.

Rubinstein did a great deal to promote Tchaikovsky's music, and between 1866 and 1880 he conducted the premieres of almost every orchestral composition the latter had written. The young composer was very grateful for Rubinstein's support, dedicating more of his works to him than to anyone else (see below). There is no evidence to substantiate the assertion that Tchaikovsky originally intended to dedicate his First Piano Concerto to Rubinstein, but five years later he did receive the dedication of the Second Piano Concerto.

Tchaikovsky was deeply upset to learn of Nikolay's sudden and unexpected death from tuberculosis in Paris on 23 March 1881, aged just 45, and he wrote an account of his passing for the Russian newspapers [1]. The Piano Trio, Op. 50, begun some months later to commemorate his friend, is dedicated "to the memory of a great artist".

Dedications

Tchaikovsky dedicated the following compositions to Nikolay Rubinstein:

Correspondence with Tchaikovsky

19 letters from Tchaikovsky to Nikolay Rubinstein have survived, dating from 1870 to 1880, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:

4 letters from Nikolay Rubinstein to Tchaikovsky, dating from 1877 to 1880, are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, Nos. 3834–3837).

Bibliography

External Links

Notes and References

  1. ↑ See The Last Days of N. G. Rubinstein's Life (TH 315).
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