Tchaikovsky - String Quartet No. 1, Op. 11 (1871)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (25 April/7 May 1840 - 25 October/6 November 1893), often anglicized as Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was a Russian composer of the late-Romantic period, some of whose works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally, bolstered by his appearances as a guest conductor in Europe and the United States. Tchaikovsky was honored in 1884, by Emperor Alexander III, and awarded a lifetime pension.
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String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11 (1871)
Dedication: Sergey Rachinsky (1836-1902)
1. Moderato e simplice
2. Andante cantabile (7:39)
3. Scherzo. Allegro non tanto e con fuoco (14:27)
4. Finale. Allegro giusto (18:13)
Emerson String Quartet
Watch the arrangement the Andante Cantabile for String Orchestra here:
• Tchaikovsky - Andante ...
Details by Edition Silvertrust:
The occasion which led Tchaikovsky to compose String Quartet No.1 in 1871 was the proposal of an all-Tchaikovsky concert by the Moscow Conservatory at which Tchaikovsky was a meagerly paid professor, by no means well-known either in Russia or abroad. To the contrary, he was virtually unknown. Tchaikovsky recognized that such a concert would bring him to the attention of the general musical public, at least Russia and if well attended, would supplement his negligible professor's salary. His economic distress made it impossible for him to engage an orchestra which ruled out any orchestral works and the necessity for programmatic variety meant that he had to put on something more than just piano solos, or violin and piano sonatas. The offer by his friend Ferdinand Laub, first violinist of the Russian Musical Society Quartet, to play without fee made writing a quartet for the concert an obvious choice.
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) is one of the most famous composers who ever lived and as such needs no introduction. However, chamber music is scarcely the first, second or even third musical genre with which he is associated. But, like most of the major composers of the 19th century, he made substantial contributions to the chamber music repertoire. Unfortunately, most of it remains virtually unknown and unplayed.
The Quartet begins Moderato e semplice, the first theme is dominated by its syncopated striking rhythm. The second theme, introduced by the viola, is also rhythmically intricate. Near the movement's end, the players are instructed to pick up the tempo gradually and to "play with fire" which gives an exciting flourish to the ending. The second movement, Andante Cantabile, is certainly one of the most famous pieces Tchaikovsky ever wrote. The melody from the midsection became an "international hit" and has become known through various transcriptions to millions the world over, few of whom ever heard it performed in its original scoring. Tolstoy, however, was one of those who did and is said to have been reduced to tears afterwards. The movement is based on a folksong which Tchaikovsky said he had heard from a carpenter. The words to this marvelous melody, however, are somewhat less than enthralling: "Vanya sat on the couch and sat drinking vodka.” The melody, as Tchaikovsky set it, begins quietly with muted strings. He makes no attempt to develop the subject before introducing the famous theme of the midsection which is sung by the first violin to the cello's pizzicato accompaniment. Next comes an upbeat scherzo, Allegro non tanto e con fuoco, full of rhythmic drive and syncopation. The finale, Allegro giusto, opens with a simple but sprightly theme of great energy. The second theme, introduced by the viola, is Russian in character, slower and more noble.

[@mr-wx3lv]

That beautiful second movement had me in tears. I wonder if you have to go through personal hardship to dig such an amazing tune from ones heart. And he was still a young man when he wrote it. True genius like this is rare...

[@notaire2]

Wunderschöne und gut phrasierte Interpretation dieses spätromantischen und perfekt komponierten Streichquartetts im veränderlichen Tempo mit seidigen Tönen beider Violinen, mildem Ton der Bratsche und tiefem Ton des Violoncellos. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders schön und echt melodisch. Im Kontrast klingt der dritte Satz echt lebhaft und auch leidenschaftlich. Endlich kommt der letzte Satz voller Bewegung und Begeisterung. Die intime und perfekt entsprechende Miteinanderwirkung zwischen den vier Virtuosen ist wahrhaft beeindruckend. Wunderbar vom Anfang bis zum Ende!

[@muratenez4128]

Bir noel gecesi ölecek miyim diye düşünürken, bedenimi saran sevgi beni bir melodi ile kendime getirip o anı yaşamama sebep oldu. Hayatımın en güzel çiçeği ile dans ederken, mutluluğun göz yaşlarına bulandım.

[@rafaele.zavalacamero3099]

Love it!

[@JanCarlComposer]

What a soulful piece :) The score is interesting. Is it some kind of final transscript? There are not many edits.

[@johns.4708]

Opus 11. Fully developed composer.

[@seongmin_choi1123]

I couldn't detect the beat until 0:10 before I reading at the score. It sounds like 5/8+4/8.

[@alicegoldenvalley]

Hello Bart, am I allowed to use this beautiful piece in one of my KZbin videos? 🌸

[@bartjebartmans]

Yes of course. Have fun.

[@kristiankroff3102]

@bartjebartmans from which sources do these manuscripts come from? Particularly Rachmaninoffs. I thought they are stored in the Library of Congress Washington and Glinka Museum Moskau and could only visited personally on demand. If the is a online library of it, please share. :)