Tchaikovsky: Op. 37: The Seasons

Author: (Russian) Tchaikovsky
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-09-01
Features: In these pieces, Tchaikovsky not only vividly depicts the natural scenery of each season but also profoundly portrays the thoughts, emotions, and lives of the Russian people, reflecting the melodic language of Russian folk music. These works are excellent examples of Tchaikovsky's realistic creation. In 1875, the editor of the St. Petersburg magazine The Novelist invited Tchaikovsky to compose one piano piece each month related to that month. Tchaikovsky instructed his male servant to remind him of this task on a specific day each month. On the day when he was supposed to write such a piano piece, he would sit down to compose and then send the completed work to the magazine's editor. He composed a total of ten such short pieces, though only June and November did not inspire him to create. For June, he used The Boat Song, and for November, he used In the Sleigh. These two pieces have now become the most famous among the twelve.