Giant Musician Piano Library: Tchaikovsky

Author: (Russia) Tchaikovsky Composer
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840, in Votkinsk City, Ural. His father was the manager and engineer of an ironworks, while his mother was passionate about music, an accomplished singer, and also played the piano. Therefore, their family was filled with a musical atmosphere. From a young age, he demonstrated extraordinary musical talent, but no one in the family ever imagined that he would become a professional musician. At the age of ten, Tchaikovsky entered the St. Petersburg Law School, but he still continued to study the piano during his spare time and often attended opera performances. In 1859, after graduating, he worked at the Ministry of Justice. During this period, he devoted himself to learning music, participating in social piano performances and creative activities. In 1862, Tchaikovsky enrolled at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, marking a decisive step toward receiving formal musical education. After graduation (1866), at the invitation of Nikolai Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, serving for eleven years. Despite the tedious teaching work often hindering his creative activities, he still produced a variety of outstanding works, including his first three symphonies, the symphonic poem Francesca da Rimini, the fantasy overture Romeo and Juliet, the ballet Swan Lake, and the Piano Concerto. This was a period of Tchaikovsky's creative peak. In 1877, Tchaikovsky's life underwent a major turning point. He married and quickly divorced. It was the most spiritually painful year of his life, during which he suffered from severe neurasthenia. As a result, he resigned from his position at the conservatory and permanently ended his demanding teaching career. From then until 1885, he primarily lived in the countryside or traveled abroad, mostly to Switzerland or Italy. During this time, through Rubinstein's introduction, he gained the appreciation and financial support of a very music-loving and generous wealthy widow—Mme. Meck (1877–1890), which allowed him to focus entirely on musical composition. At the same time, starting in 1877, marked the height of Tchaikovsky's creative period. He began composing two brilliant works—the opera Eugene Onegin and his famous Fourth Symphony.