Duration: 2:30, score: 8 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 5 pages. A well-known favorite masterpiece suitable for a recital or school program.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of thegreat composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise,it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This isprobably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes withgreat emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettableimpact.

Education
First of all, He attended classes at the RussianMusical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. PetersburgConservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He alsoconsequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems likeRubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as “theFive.”

The Five
The Five certainly rejected Western musicalinfluences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. Theyfurthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials.

Western Techniques
More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovskystudied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the Europeanmasters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He thenintroduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained hisindependence from “the Five.” Even more, he became the first Russian composerof international stature.

Influences
Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his balletscoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing.Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite,and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies.The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the “Pathétique.”

Swan Lake Op. 20
Tchaikovsky composed Swan Lake in 1875-76. To beginwith, most noteworthy the ballet failed to attract a positive reception. Overtime, however, the ballet became probably one of the most popular of all ofTchaikovsky’s works. The ballet was certainly first performed by the BolshoiBallet in Moscow.

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