P.I. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 "Pathetic": history, video, content

P.I. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 "Pathetic"

The Sixth Symphony is the final composition in the work of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The writing is one of the best works of the era of romanticism and does not lose its own relevance in our time. Learn the history of creation, discover dozens of interesting facts, as well as get acquainted with the content of the composition on our page.

History of creation

In the last years of his life, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky felt a special breakdown. In his own letters, he admitted that he wanted to compose the last symphony, which could be a generalized result of his activities and creative way. A long search accompanied the author for two years. The composer even composed several parts of a symphonic work that bore the title “Life”. Unfortunately, the author decided to completely change the idea and change the optimistic attitude to the tragic concept, as a result of which the almost finished composition was completely destroyed.

During his trip to Europe, Tchaikovsky caught on the idea of ​​creating a work that has such a program idea that will remain a real secret to the audience. The composer hinted to the audience that the program would be subjective, that is, to carry the code of personal experiences.

For a long time, Peter Ilyich mentally thought through the development of composition in new lands. Music overwhelmed his soul and made him cry, the creator confessed in his own letters about such sentimentality.

In February, on returning home, work on the creation began quite rapidly. Literally in four days the first part was completely written. The beginning of the second part was laid, but due to departure to Moscow, in order to give an author's concert, the work had to be postponed. A few days later, on his return, the composition of the third part began. And again departure to Moscow. It was only in March that they managed to return to composing. By the end of the first spring month the draft version was ready.

In the tenth of August the score was fully prepared and given to the painting of the parties.

It should be noted that the author did not tell anyone except the closest people about the idea of ​​composing the 6th symphony, right up to the moment of the final completion of the draft version. After the letters, he admitted that in a creative impulse he got rid of the previous symphony, and now he wrote a completely different music, which he would never expose to the same fate.

The title of the genius of classical Russian music implied the maintenance of a fairly fast, bustling life with many trips, so the orchestration had to be postponed for quite a long time. His creative tour included not only such cities of Russia as Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and St. Petersburg, but also European capitals: Paris, London and Berlin.

In mid-July, Tchaikovsky returned to Klin and began to orchestrate. The process of instrumentation took more time than expected. The problem was that after years of work in the role of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich became more demanding about his own work.

Premiere

In October 1893 in St. Petersburg, the premiere of the work. The author himself dominated the conductor's panel. It is impossible to say that the public was fascinated by the new work, which upset the Russian classic very much. He placed great hopes on this music, which could not be justified during his lifetime.

The tragic and sudden death of the composer played a special role in the realization of the true meaning of music. Some time after saying goodbye to the author, the work was performed again under the direction of E. Napravnik, the music was appreciated and recognized as one of the best symphonic works of the era.

Interesting Facts

• Initially, the composer wanted to compose a symphony with the program name "Life". The concept of the work was to be sustained in the most cheerful spirit. As a result, the plan was difficult to implement, and the composer kindled a fireplace with a practically composed score.
• The writing is dedicated to his nephew Vladimir Davydov, the author wrote about this in a letter for Volodya, to which Tchaikovsky's favorite did not respond.
• Only a narrow circle of people knew that work was underway on the composition of the Sixth Symphony.
• The name "Pathetic" was offered to Peter Ilyich by his brother Modest.
• The first part was composed in record time, in just 4 days.
• Before starting work on the composition, on the first page, the author noted, “Lord, bless,” and on the last page, “Lord, thank you! On this day I completed the draft sketch.”
• The author believed that this work is his pride, because, without exaggeration, he put his whole soul into it.
• The introduction to the first part, which is the seed of monotematism, was composed last.
• Music of the third part was opened Olympics 80 in Moscow.
• Tchaikovsky quoted in the work a church dirge "With the saints rest in peace".
• Subsequently, the first part will be completely rewritten, and the original material will be used to implement the Third Piano Concerto, composed at the same time.

Content

The Sixth Symphony is one of the few works affecting the eternal philosophical theme of life and death. The author wanted to give the listener an opportunity to invent his own story, so he chose to abandon explicit programming. Nevertheless, it is impossible to deny the subjective author's side, inherent in each step of the work from beginning to end.

The four-part classical for the symphony genre makes it possible to reflect the tragic drama.

• I part - Allegro with a slow entry of Adagio.
• Part II - Five-waltz.
• Part III - Scherzo-march.
• Final - Adagio lamentozo.

The musical text of the symphony provides the presence of a sufficiently large number of tempo changes, which can often lead to the fact that the form will fall apart and there will not be a single impression. But Tchaikovsky managed to avoid a similar outcome, thanks to the introduction of monothematism. Already in the introduction of information is encrypted for the development of not only the first part, but the whole symphony. At the same time, the topic of introduction cannot be called a leitmotif, since it appears once in the work, but it provides an intonational basis for subsequent topics, including part IV.

The conflict was settled in part I of the work. The gloomy introduction to the tempo of Adagio helps to set off the exposition section, which includes the Main Theme, which is based on the hidden intonation of the introduction complaint. Nevertheless, the topic is agitated, but not tense, compared in character with the secondary theme. Emotional temperature will increase with the re-holding of the Main theme, then it will change its own character.

A tutti chord is a thought that carries an individual tragedy. The development section includes two waves, leading to a climax:

• I wave is based on the genre of the march and has a convulsive character.
• Wave II is a fugatto.

The internal pressure continues to increase, the colors are thickening. This is a tragedy of the inner consciousness, there is no counter-action, fate has not knocked on the door. The problem is born in a monologue and it fills the inner world of a person, gradually destroying it. Conflict detection is on the verge of building. The tension rises to the limit, a “stroke” occurs at the climax, the Orthodox requiem “With the saints rest” sounds. On arrhythmic bass, wooden-wind instruments form intonations of sigh and crying. A small code is built on the previous intonations and is the logical conclusion of the part.

If part I is an internal emotional-mental process, then part II and part III is the space of the real world, of reality, with all its positive and negative sides.

The final does not give a single hope for the emergence of an optimistic conclusion. The end of the tragedy that occurred in the first part finds realization in the final. Diving into the abyss, hopelessness is positioned as a lack of happiness. Gradually, the sonority decreases, nothing can change.

From the point of view of the very tragic concept, the parts can be viewed from the following angle:

• Part I - Thinking about life and death.
• Part II - The poetic world of the lyrical hero.
• The third part - the Scherzo of evil, the mock of fate or the feast of life, in which man is an extra link.
• IV - the tragic denouement of the work.

Music 6 of the symphony is built on bright contrasts. The constant, rather abrupt change of affects, both between the parts and inside them, allows the listener not only to penetrate deeply into the meaning of the work, but also to experience a number of psychological states from absolute feelings of inspiration to sheer exhaustion and confusion. The strictly sustained classical form of the composition made it possible to make the work extremely interesting for study.

Use of music in movies

There is no such situation that music 6 of the symphony could not express. The emotional amplitude of the piece shakes its breadth, perhaps for this very reason, directors and producers so actively use the musical material as an additional emotional impact.

• State vs Fritz Bauer (2015)
• Full frame (2015)
• Bunker (2011)
• The Mentalist (2011)
• Inspector Bellamy (2009)
• Daphne (2007)
• Aviator (2004)
• Minority Report (2002)
• Anna Karenina (1997)
• Clouds float away (1996)
• Ren and Stimpi Show (1995)
• Angel at my table (1990)
• Match Factory Factory (1990)
• Ariel (1988)
• Maurice (1987)

The concept of the work opened up new facets for the creativity of romantics. The last large-scale essay of Tchaikovsky will forever remain a reflection of the inner world of the creator. Life or death, to be or not to be, is a decision, it is a thought that originated in our consciousness and gives us either the strength to overcome, or the tragic outcome.