tchaikovsky's iconic horn solo

a quick analysis of the incredibly poignant yet noble horn solo from the second movement of tchaikovsky's 5th symphony.
karajan: • Tchaikovsky: Symphony ...

[@Catherine-classical]

I’m a horn player, and this excerpt or I should say this entire symphony never gets old for me❤

[@Dylonely42]

It never gets old for any classical music lover…

[@klop4228]

I have my issues with the symphony (particularly the ending) but damn is this movement beautiful.

[@cjams115]

How you listened to “And the Mountains Rising Nowhere” by Joe Schwanter? As a fellow Horn player, the horn feature at around the 6:00 minute mark is one of the best ever written.

[@cmonclair27]

It never does get old. You can sense a form of remembrance in this excerpt. The 2nd theme of the 6th's final movement also looks back at memories. But while the 5th's has this beautiful serene reverence the 6th's is bitter-sweet and full of longing. Strings.

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

With all due respect. I am not a horn player but fascinated about how some musical artists are able to have their instruments create waves of harmonic sounds that make you forget that there is someone playing 'an instrument". It is that moment that makes me listening to music played by real artists - not the fact that music never gets old. Since it can get old really instantly - if played by somebody who is not able to play an instrument with the same level of professional competency, it was created at by its composer.

[@chischilisnez7811]

I always enjoyed performing this solo. I sometimes could do it without tears in my eyes....

[@spobicity]

Well done! The whole of the second movement is absolutely gorgeous and usually reduces me to tears, or at the very least raises the hairs on my arms.

[@spobicity]

Probably the loveliest horn solo ever written. Tchaikovsky is my favourite composer and this is my favourite symphony. Also love the horns in Romeo and Juliet.

[@Dan474834]

Strauss Four Last Songs September

[@cinemagraphymahivara2000]

Tchaikovsky is technical composer. Harmony of Mussorgsky, Korsakov and Stravinsky is better

[@spobicity]

@@cinemagraphymahivara2000 not for me.

[@visortheinvisioner196]

@@cinemagraphymahivara2000 Harmonies are subjective like all things in music, love ❤. If you mean in terms of complexity, complexity ≠ quality. That's one primary reason why composers like Mozart who were known for simple harmonies are praised, but praised equally as highly are composers like Ravel, Ellington and Herbie Hancock just to name a few. Furthermore, harmonies also change based on what emotion the composer wants to express, evoke, or create within the listener. 🌸Sincerely, an eye-protector on the internet🌸

[@prototropo]

@@spobicity I agree--harmony, like melody, isn't better or worse. Entire compositional skills may be measured superior--like Bach's- or merely competent--sorry Prokofiev--but preferences are not quantifiable.

[@mynameisbill022]

The brooding string chorale at the beginning perfectly sets the stage for the horn solo. Instant frissons. Like the opening to a fantasy film

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

I wish it did - it is supposed to - but it did not. Don't blame the composer.

[@PuddintameXYZ]

Honestly, it's that dark opening that does it for me. As a fan of Mvt. I & IV of his 6th Symphony, the opening of this movement pretty well hits the spot

[@AndrewKierszenbaum]

Exactly, and to me Rachmaninoff (my favorite and one of the two best composers imo) is one of the best because all his music is as good as that string opening. After the horn solo starts, it starts to get a little goofy (like some other works of Tchaikovsky - not to say bad, just a bit goofy/noodly)

[@alanpotter8680]

If you haven't heard of Rach's The Isle of the Dead, then do now. For me it's the darkest, the loneliest, the creepiest and yet the most beautiful piece ever written.

[@PuddintameXYZ]

@@alanpotter8680 Have indeed. Great piece

[@DanielKRui]

@@AndrewKierszenbaum I have always felt the same way (especially why Rachmaninoff appeals to me). Describing the stuff after the opening minutes as "goofy/noodly"... I also feel the same.

[@BillF1967]

I've heard this melody hundreds of times and it never fails to grab my attention and stir my heart.

[@andrewfortmusic]

Mmm, one of the most incredible horn solos ever written! I'm going to learn this one!

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

Absolutely agree - with the emphasis on "written" and not played.

[@CqmiliCqt]

As both a horn and clarinet player I love this so much, it always brings chills to me whenever I hear it

[@JHCMPR]

im a horn and clarinet player too :D

[@davidlangston6927]

I’m getting to perform this solo for the first time. It is so full of emotion and beauty. I pray I do it justice.

[@michellewij]

This excerpt is so beautiful 🥺 also awesome job for the harmonic analysis and the comments 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 I rarely listen to Tchaikovsky’s music (I only know his piano music tho, like the piano concerto) but knowing this makes me curious and want to listen to him more. Thank you for the video 🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@SantiagoGonzalez-sl5lj]

Just a little recomendation: Suite for orchestra nº3, 1st movement: elegie

[@michellewij]

@@SantiagoGonzalez-sl5lj Whoaa gonna listen to it. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@guardsdepot]

His 4th and 6th symphonies will just blow your mind............................

[@joshtheviolinist]

His violin concerto is his best for me

[@fruitbowlproductions7327]

Intro to the solo is so beautiful.

[@liamesanchez]

I'm so thankful that your channel exists - lovely showcasing of some fantastic melodies and exposure to repertoire that I should definitely explore a bit more. Merci bien. God bless you.

[@skylarlimex]

your comment is very kind, thank you so much!

[@belgianvanbeethoven]

I only just figured out this is the melody used for the 30s swing tune 'Moon Love', made famous by Glenn Miller!

[@belgianvanbeethoven]

Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmivm2qkjLSEg7s

[@azulyth]

thats what i was thinking !! as i read the score i thought, isnt this the melody of moon love ? and then the horn played it

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

You confirm what I said above. These masters have influenced almost anybody who is involved in creating and composing music.

[@ney_6430]

This is the first time I watched a video in this channel and I can tell it is going to help me a lot, thank you!(I have to study music analysis)

[@zdzislawmeglicki2262]

Tchaikovsky's music is so dancy. Whether it's a piano concerto or a symphony I can't help imagining a ballet when I listen to it.

[@willmandelbaum6087]

my favorite part about this is the resolution at the very end where the tonic becomes the flat 6 in F# major

[@lars1588]

I'm a horn player and I wish I had heard this sooner. Thanks for opening my ears lol.

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

And I hope you learned the lesson. This is not how Tchaikovsky composed it - this is how a "musician" plays it.

[@J1283-s1k]

Gives me hints of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, Elegie. Great content.

[@karlsengupta7185]

I have loved this passage from the first time I heard it...I love the Fifth in general, along with Tchaikovsky's seldom-discussed _Manfred_ Symphony. Thank you for this.

[@skylarlimex]

I have a small video on Manfred if you're interested

[@karlsengupta7185]

Thank you very much! I found it while perusing your other videos. It, too, is superbly done, as are all your videos. I'm sorry I didn't explore your material sooner! @@skylarlimex

[@jezt42]

I never tire of listening to this. 🙂👍

[@wolf1303]

I need to listen and learn more about Tchaikovsky symphonic works, this is beautiful...

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

Tchaikovsky - together with Beethoven and Mozart and most certainly Bach were the ones who in one way or another influenced almost all the others who were creating music during those times.

[@willrivers5046]

I'm a trombone player, and I wish we had this excerpt 😢.

[@dnarbredlih]

Sibelius 7 is about the closest we have.

[@hermeticinstrumentalist6804]

I didn't know about this, but it is very cool. Always awesome to learn about the greats.

[@charleskee5495]

i rember playing this on my horn just randomly wile messing around and it was like i know this is a horn solo but from where and now i know

[@papagen00]

i also love the long, long horn solo from rossini's otello overture that most people don't know.

[@random-y4u9o]

masterpiece 😊

[@random-y4u9o]

me months later: still masterpiece… 😢

[@Wellfitaj]

Beautiful ❤

[@itamarbar9580]

The YIPO, an orchestra I left just last year, had just yesterday played that.

[@SandroMassarani]

Wonderful. Great video, thank you very much.

[@JeffOfTheMountains]

With me looking to get back into playing the horn after more than 20 years, I figure it's time to at least start listening to some French Horn pieces to help familiarize myself with it.

[@JuanRuiz-pb9jn]

Es un movimiento sereno de la sinfonia 5, tranquilizante.

[@Benbeenbee]

Such warmth❤

[@slevemcdichael3712]

This guys has good taste

[@TheGymSavant]

The concert G in the horn at 1:12 is a 4-3 suspension. Excellent video otherwise!

[@skylarlimex]

ah yes thank you!

[@TheTangojorge]

beatiful

[@jeppoo1]

The horn melody in the beginning sounds a bit like "Annie's Song"

[@skylarlimex]

never noticed that before!

[@echowhisper99]

​@@skylarlimex "Annie's Song" was my first thought when I heard that passage as well! And apparently we're not wrong. Look for an article titled "how Tchaikovsky filled up John Denver's senses." In other words, Annie's Song was, in fact, inspired by (ripped off?) this piece!

[@dozin1]

annies song is literally based on this piece.

[@matthiascheah3519]

Strings in D always sounds gut wrenching to me

[@robertocozzarin]

Tutti con la mano sul cuore

[@SilverAg11]

My second favorite horn solo as a trombone player. Only after Borodin 2

[@connorskeeters8981]

these are dope!

[@jonathanleonard1152]

Did John Denver copy some of the feeling of this for one of his songs? \

[@russelldeitch5765]

Annie's Song. I heard that too.

[@vincentlombardo9797]

yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@isaacvandermerwe744]

gold

[@fuzinator88]

Very nice. Notation in F for the Horn section would be cool

[@12ratsinatrenchcoat4]

I'm teaching myself this solo right now lol

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

Good luck and go easy on your neighbors.

[@blscksholz]

🌟

[@CamEron-nj5qy]

Anyone else think the opening sounds exactly like Rach 2, Mvt 2?

[@wesleyc.4937]

MORE THAN HARMONIC DETAIL ---- That 12/8 meter is interesting too. None of the beats have been divided into smaller divisions, by sixteenth notes, for example - which makes it impossible for a funk to infect it.

[@cinemagraphymahivara2000]

Tchaikovschina. Banal note transitions and glissando

[@An-br7hb]

The second chord is a VI grade. Not IV. There is a C

[@skylarlimex]

You must have mistaken the bass clef with a treble one

[@Dylonely42]

0:46

[@robb6560]

The solo is not over!!!! You stopped the video too early!

[@invinciblehorizon4599]

Do you think you could make a video explaining chords like IV6 and iiø7 cause I don’t know what they mean

[@skylarlimex]

i'll think about doing that!

[@feliperodrigues554]

Rachmaninoff 2 piano concerto, 2 mov

[@skylarlimex]

exactly!

[@tomrockhill8634]

Brahms 1 piano concerto 2nd movement or Grieg 1 piano concerto 2nd movement 😍 All 3 exquisite!!

[@LavaMLG]

S/o violas

[@timofeymarkin4142]

How slowly!!!

[@philosophicallyspeaking6463]

Too much unredeemed melancholy. Brahms has all the melodic gravitas without Tchaikovsky's unresolved depressive countenance.

[@ihaveacoolnickname]

Disagree. They were different men and Tchaikovsky's music tells the tale of his life exquisitely. Not all sadness is redeemed.

[@philosophicallyspeaking6463]

​@@ihaveacoolnickname I agree with you, and it 'is', as you say, iconic with regards to Tchaikovsky. That's one of the things that tempers my appetite for too great an allowance of it. Not being of a depressive countenance myself, I don't resonate with Tchaikovsky's almost welcoming resignation, and the indulgence necessary to it. To fight so bravely, as Tchaikovsky elsewhere does, and to concede failure is, for me...a musically disappointing result. It is true that misery loves company, but I broach no purchase for it even recreationally.

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

That's why some prefer Brahms to Tchaikovsky. This has nothing to do with either of these great musical geniuses, but everything with people having different opinions. Which is not limited to music.

[@tvartsy]

dull solo, i can't hear nothing iconic

[@tuma470]

Where did you find the sheets?

[@skylarlimex]

imslp piano arrangement