Meet a Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Years Lived: 1840-1893Period: RomanticCountry: Russia
On Saturday, March 13th at 7:30pm, The Columbia Orchestra will stream a free concert including Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings on the Orchestra's YouTube channel. The Concert will also feature Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony in C minor.
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer from the Romantic era. He is possibly most famous for his ballets—The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty—and he is arguably the most famous Russian composer of all time!
Tchaikovsky was born to a family that had a rich tradition in the Russian military. At the time, being a musician was not considered an acceptable career choice, so Tchaikovsky's parents pushed him to study to become a civil servant (someone who works for the government). He studied piano and became a prodigy by the age of 8, but attended a non-music school for his early years of study. After he graduated at the age of 19, he went on to work in the military as a low ranking officer for three years.
At 21, Tchaikovsky enrolled at the Russian Musical Society (the first public music school in Russia). After graduating, he took a professorship at the newly opened Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky is considered to be the first Russian musician able to work as a composer for his full time job, as opposed to composing as a hobby or side job.
Tchaikovsky's most famous work, The Nutcracker, was one of the last compositions he wrote; his 6th symphony was his final work. Shortly after the premiere of his 6th symphony—a symphony he decided would be his best work yet—Tchaikovsky died from cholera (a disease which was spreading in Russia at the time).
Tchaikovsky wrote 3 ballets, 11 operas, 6 symphonies, 12 concertos, 18 piano compositions, as well as chamber music, orchestral works, and choral music. His music has been included in so many movies, television shows, and commercials that most people will have heard some of his music.Did you Know?
Tchaikovsky came to America in 1891 to conduct his music at the opening of New York's famous Carnegie Hall. Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake was initially a failure, although today it is one of the most popular ballets ever written. The Nutcracker ballet was also not initially well-received, which is surprising because now the major American ballet companies receive as much as 40% of their annual ticket income from performances of The Nutcracker.
The Classics for Kids website includes this short article about Tchaikovsky, with two samples of music from The Nutcracker. They also have a podcast about Tchaikovsky's life, and this podcast about ballet which includes music from all three of Tchaikovsky's ballets.
This Odd Quartet YouTube video is about the history of The Nutcracker ballet. Here is a backstage peak of the Columbia Orchestra performing the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony.
Years Lived: 1840-1893
Period: Romantic
Country: Russia
On Saturday, March 13th at 7:30pm, The Columbia Orchestra will stream a free concert including Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings on the Orchestra's YouTube channel. The Concert will also feature Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony in C minor.
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer from the Romantic era. He is possibly most famous for his ballets—The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty—and he is arguably the most famous Russian composer of all time!
Tchaikovsky was born to a family that had a rich tradition in the Russian military. At the time, being a musician was not considered an acceptable career choice, so Tchaikovsky's parents pushed him to study to become a civil servant (someone who works for the government). He studied piano and became a prodigy by the age of 8, but attended a non-music school for his early years of study. After he graduated at the age of 19, he went on to work in the military as a low ranking officer for three years.
At 21, Tchaikovsky enrolled at the Russian Musical Society (the first public music school in Russia). After graduating, he took a professorship at the newly opened Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky is considered to be the first Russian musician able to work as a composer for his full time job, as opposed to composing as a hobby or side job.
Tchaikovsky's most famous work, The Nutcracker, was one of the last compositions he wrote; his 6th symphony was his final work. Shortly after the premiere of his 6th symphony—a symphony he decided would be his best work yet—Tchaikovsky died from cholera (a disease which was spreading in Russia at the time).
Tchaikovsky wrote 3 ballets, 11 operas, 6 symphonies, 12 concertos, 18 piano compositions, as well as chamber music, orchestral works, and choral music. His music has been included in so many movies, television shows, and commercials that most people will have heard some of his music.
Did you Know?
Tchaikovsky came to America in 1891 to conduct his music at the opening of New York's famous Carnegie Hall.
Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake was initially a failure, although today it is one of the most popular ballets ever written. The Nutcracker ballet was also not initially well-received, which is surprising because now the major American ballet companies receive as much as 40% of their annual ticket income from performances of The Nutcracker.
The Classics for Kids website includes this short article about Tchaikovsky, with two samples of music from The Nutcracker. They also have a podcast about Tchaikovsky's life, and this podcast about ballet which includes music from all three of Tchaikovsky's ballets.
This Odd Quartet YouTube video is about the history of The Nutcracker ballet.
Here is a backstage peak of the Columbia Orchestra performing the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony.
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