Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) was a Russian
composer who lived in the Romantic period. He is one of
the most popular of all Russian composers. He wrote
melodies which were usually dramatic and emotional. He
learned a lot from studying the music of Western
Europe, but his music also sounds very Russian. His
compositions include 11 operas, 3 ballets, orchestral
music, chamber music and over 100 songs. His famous
ballets (Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty)
have some of the best...(+)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) was a Russian
composer who lived in the Romantic period. He is one of
the most popular of all Russian composers. He wrote
melodies which were usually dramatic and emotional. He
learned a lot from studying the music of Western
Europe, but his music also sounds very Russian. His
compositions include 11 operas, 3 ballets, orchestral
music, chamber music and over 100 songs. His famous
ballets (Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty)
have some of the best known tunes in all of romantic
music.
Tchaikovsky's ballet of the Nutcracker is based on
Alexandre Dumas' translation of the original tale by
E.T.A. Hoffman. Act One tells a story of how little
Clara aids her magical Christmas gift (a nutcracker in
the form of a soldier) defeat an army of mice. As a
reward, in Act Two, he takes her to his magic kingdom
and introduces her to a variety of subjects in a
colorful stream of character dances. Tchaikovsky was
initially displeased with the scenario for the ballet,
which would be his last, because it lacked real drama.
However, he reconciled himself to it and completed the
Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, which was popular from its
first performance, before going on to complete the
entire ballet. Those seven dances -- including the
familiar Spanish (Chocolate), Arab (Coffee), Chinese
(Tea), and Russian dances -- and the overture are
essentially the same as they appeared in the final,
full ballet. To these he added interludes and scenes,
with music and orchestrations that are just as
delightful. His supply of lovely themes is endless, and
he constantly provides brilliant orchestration. Unique
features of his instrumentation include the Overture,
which is entirely without cellos and double basses; the
"Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," which was inspired by
the new celesta, an instrument Tchaikovsky encountered
in Paris while working on the score; and the "Waltz of
the Snowflakes," which uses a children's chorus. He
also used toy instruments, perfectly in keeping with a
story for children. The ballet was not as successful as
his other stage works when it first appeared, however,
now the traditional Christmas ballet is so popular that
its annual performance keeps many a ballet company
afloat. If all you know of this ballet is the famous
suite, by all means hear the entire work.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_Ilyich_Tchaiko
vsky).
Although originally created for Orchestra, I created
this Transcription of the "Chinese Dance" from the
Nutcracker Suite (Opus 71a Mvt. 6) for Small Orchestra
(Piccolos, Flutes, Oboes, Bb Clarinets, French Horns,
Bassoons, Glockenspiel, Violins, Violas, Cellos &
Bass).