Bernstein: Analysis of Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 6 "Pathetique" (1/3)

An analysis of the Pathetique Symphony by Leonard Bernstein, with musical examples played by the New York Stadium Symphony Orchestra (the summer incarnation of the NY Philharmonic).

[@graysonguo9938]

My god, the beginning part is totally my favorite. It just moves my entire soul every single time. Good old Tchaikovsky you're such a charmful, passionate, unfathomable man.

[@marcelouz1]

Extrordinary Analisis of the genious of Bernstein . He dedicated more than a dacade in teaching to the kids in the "young people concerts", Now he is teaching to all of us in a simple way the the structure of this Dramatic Symphony . What a pity that it stops in the most important analisis of the following movements. Marcelo Uzcátegui

[@eggshellskullrule7971]

Tchaikovsky symphonies were the second series of symphonies after I started listening to Beethoven’s. Beethoven melodie’s were second to Tchaikovsky’s for what they are worth. There is always a moving aspect about Tchaikovsky’s music that take me deep into moods and feelings.

[@josepablo1514]

I can whistle all Tchaikovsky' s symphonies.. :).. Even Manfred..

[@_Chuvisco_]

I can also do it but only the last three!

[@tlooneytoon]

Me too! I love his symphonies!

[@Moonmatt2]

Thank you for posting this. This will help me appreciate the Pathetique even more!

[@jbgrules]

Where did you get a hold of this? I would like to find the source since I am writing a college essay and need a more "scholarly" source to cite it from.

[@stefanufer608]

As always with Lenny, completely fascinating

[@classiccandle27]

i love this analysis, thanks, bernstein! 7:08~ gotta love that climax buildup~

[@droidean]

Thank you for posting this.

[@sjleemd2001]

Excellent.need more of these lecture

[@musicurio]

Without in any way trying to be disrespectful, and making such allowances I can for the date of this talk, I cannot agree with the effusive comments of some of the contributors. It is not remarkable that scales are much in evidence in this movement - they often are in music, and Tchaikovsky uses them frequently - think of the extended (descending) scalar passage in the 1812 overture - the one that ends with the bass trombone, for example. And if I may say so, calling three consecutive notes - a tone and a semitone - which Bernstein pointed out as occuring in the begining of the movement as evidence for the use of scales....well really! Even ignoring the comments that allude to whistling - since we may - our appreciation of the genious of TCHAIKOVSKY could be enhanced so much more by asking, for example what or of whom was he thinking when he wrote what Bernstein correctly describes as a "pure orchestral song known and loved to the outermost reaches of the civilized world" Now THAT is a question, and it begs others: why the shy first outing? the cause of the confident re emergance before we have had time for it to die in our mind, and with bigger orchestration and a fantastic couple of octaves of scale grace notes propelling us up to the melody by massed strings (a scale that Bernstein seems to have ignored) almost immediately repeated for emphasis. Tchyaikovsky was begging to be heard! Telling us such things in the only way that he, at that time could. I could go on, but will not, and would not have writtenhad I not felt a bit "goaded" by some of the comments. I should lighten up possibly, but wonderful as the Bernstien analysis is, for me, he tells me little that helps me understand the wonder of this music, and a few things that seem less than useful.

[@anEyePhil]

First movement only.

[@robertovelasco9993]

Thank so much for this

[@easyaspi1177]

Some scattered quotes from the 1812 Overture in #6 also.

[@ClassicHolic]

i always "whistle" to the whole symphony!! hahaha

[@Treijim]

@franklywrightbitches eh, my whistling is more in tune than my screaming, though youre right it does sometimes come to that when the passion overflows

[@Treijim]

@ClassicHolic i whistle to all of tchaikovsky :D

[@FreakieFan]

I don't understand why he keeps harking on about Scales. All music and melodies is built on scales, so why is he constantly pointing it out here as something noteworthy? Lenny is usually incredibly insightful, but here he has little interesting to say.

[@FriendlyCroock]

The last movement is demonic