Dictionary of the Russian Language

Tchaikovsky Research

The Dictionary of the Russian Language (Словарь русского языка) began to be compiled in 1891 under the editorship of Yakov Grot. Tchaikovsky edited some of the musical entries in Part II («Втас–Да») and made additions to the entry «Демественный пение» in Part III (TH 321 ; ČW 675).

History

Begun by 29 October 1892 [1], completed by 4 March 1893[2]. Made at the request of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich.

In the introduction to Part II of the dictionary, Tchaikovsky is credited as a ‘reviewer of proof pages and supplier of notes'.

Autographs

A rough draft of the entry for «Демественный пение» exists in the composer's handwriting, although it differs in many respects from the version published in Part III of the dictionary, after the composer's death. It is preserved in the Tchaikovsky House-Museum Archive at Klin.

Printed proofs of the entries in Part II from «Г» to «Генеральша», with Tchaikovsky's annotations, are also preserved in the Klin archive.

Publication

Published in Parts II and III of Словарь русского языка (Saint Petersburg: Академии наук, 1892 and 1895).

The entry for «Демественный пение» was reprinted in П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том III-А (1957), p. 253.

Notes and References

  1. See Letter 4793 to Yakov Grot, 29 October/10 November 1892.
  2. See Letter 4881 to Yakov Grot, 4/16 March 1893.