I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and my theme this year is classical music. Check out the list of other participants by clicking here! T
is for Tchaikovsky. Pyotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer who lived from 1840 to 1893. Today’s
featured video is the waltz from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet.
Video link: https://youtu.be/2Sb8WCPjPDs
· Pyotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky was initially taught piano by his governess starting at the
age of 4. He also became fluent in French and German by the age of 6.
· Tchaikovsky
was sent to boarding school at the age of 10 to further his musical studies.
When his mother dropped him off, it was so traumatic for him that he clung to
the wheels of her carriage trying to stop her from leaving him there.
· It is
said that this experience stuck with him his entire life and contributed to the
emotion in his musical works.
· Like
Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky wrote music inspired by Romeo and Juliet. Some of his other popular works include the 1812 Overture and his three ballets- Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The
Nutcracker.
 |
| Original cast of The Sleeping Beauty Saint Petersburg, 1890 |
· You
have most likely heard something from The
Nutcracker, especially around Christmastime. Disney’s Sleeping Beauty uses many adaptations from Tchaikovsky’s ballet of
the same name.
· A
great motivational quote from Tchaikovsky: "Inspiration is a guest that
does not willingly visit the lazy."
Sources: http://www.classicfm.com/composers/tchaikovsky/
Yesterday’s
trivia: Which of Saint-Saëns’ pieces is meant to envision Death playing a
fiddle? Answer: Danse Macabre
For
this challenge, I’m keeping a playlist of the videos I’m using plus some extras
for anyone who wants to hear more. I will update with the latest letter each
day. Today’s extra video, like yesterday’s addition, is swan-related. It is the
“Swan Theme” from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake
ballet performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Yuri
Simonov.
Are you a fan of
music from The Nutcracker? Do you know any of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies, concertos, or other works?
I also want to apologize for not getting to anybody's "S" post yesterday, it has been an exceptionally busy week, and visiting blogs just was not happening for me Friday. I plan to catch up on "S" and "T" posts today, since I finally have a day off!
Of course I've heard Tchaikovsky’s work. He's a giant in the field. I'm not a big fan of the Nutcracker, though.
ReplyDeleteLiz A. from
Laws of Gravity
Liz, I think The Nutcracker is so over-played at Christmas to a point where I get tired of it.
DeleteTen is pretty young to be sent away to school no matter how talented you are. I do love the Nutcracker.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Susan, I could not imagine being that young, I had a hard enough time leaving home for college!
DeleteI wonder what his governesses thought of all of his success. They got him started and look what he became!
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I'm sure she was very proud!
DeleteI do enjoy the Nutcracker at Christmas. Poor him with such a traumatic event though with being at the boarding school. It was a good thing for him musically but I can imagine at 10 it would be hard to leave your mother.
ReplyDeletebetty
Betty, I started public school when I was 10 (after being homeschooled) and I didn't want to change teachers the next year! I could not have handled being away from my mom.
DeleteAh yes. The Big T does have some beautiful (at at times difficult to perform!) music. It's a little sad that most people *only* know the Nutcracker..
ReplyDelete~AJ Lauer
an A-Z Co-host
@ayjaylauer
AJ, it is sad, that is part of the reason I picked this theme. I wanted to introduce people to the wide world of classical music, and I tried to keep a balance of selections with some popular and some less common :)
DeleteHe has some fabulous music. Really stirs the soul.
ReplyDeleteWriter In Transit
Michelle, I can hear the emotional depth he put into his work, it is beautiful!
Deletegreat post
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise!
DeleteI've seen The Nutcracker and enjoyed Tchaikovsky's music in that very much.
ReplyDeleteI could see how being sent to boarding school might be troubling for a young child, although as a young child, I was often curious about boarding school. I will share more about that in a future post next week about a boarding school.
Cynthia, I did not know much about boarding school as a child. The only time I was away from home was when I stayed with my grandma or my cousins.
DeleteLove his music, but such a sad tale from his childhood. I can see how it would be an influence.
ReplyDeleteAs far as busy and the A to Z - OMG, how any of us get through the day and do this is beyond me! :) I'm still in the process of catching up from that first week, and failing mind you! LOL
Yolanda, I gave up on visiting anything beyond the last few days of letters, lol. I have zoned out at my work a lot this month due to lack of sleep!
DeleteSometimes great trauma is what sparks the creative genius. Would he have been such a fabulous composer if he hadn't had that childhood trauma to deal with?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question, Kate! I think his work would not have the same emotional depth without the traumatic experience he went through.
DeleteI love The Nutcracker. Those melodies get stuck in my head all the time.
ReplyDeleteMine too, Tamara :)
DeleteThis was great. I really enjoy Tchaikovsky and The Nutcracker. ~Meg Writer‘s Crossings
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Megan!
DeleteI love his capprichio Italian. Not sure if I spelled it correctly. I love the Nutcracker ballet and Swan Lake. He was so romantic and had so much sadness
ReplyDeleteBirgit, I like those pieces too, his work is truly beautiful!
Delete