P.I. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4: history, video, content

P.I. Tchaikovsky Symphony №4

The fourth symphony of Tchaikovsky is an unusually powerful work that opened in the composer a new facet of his personality. The composition has a deep meaning, which can be found on our page.

History of creation

The idea of ​​composing a symphony visited the composer after experiencing a serious mental crisis associated with an unsuccessful marriage. The state and the socio-political situation, namely the Russian-Turkish war, pumped. Military actions were always associated with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with the image of the fatum, the fatal beginning that dominates the lyrical hero, and now they have completely prompted the creation of such a large-scale composition.

The 4th Symphony was completed in 1877. A year later, she was performed under the direction of Nikolai Grigorievich Rubinstein. Success was guaranteed, the hall exulted. Many of the listeners could not understand the ideas of music, but Tchaikovsky did not want to disclose it. The composer seriously believed that a person should guess himself, and the creator should in no way impose his own thoughts. The only one with whom Tchaikovsky shared the program of the work was Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck, a close friend by correspondence. In one of the letters he explained the content of each part.

Interesting Facts

• The symphonic work was re-certified for the Russian folk orchestra by the hand of Alexander Glazunov. Andreev, who was the founder of the Russian folk orchestra and also a promoter of Russian folk music, needed such orchestration. It is noteworthy that the work in the folk arrangement was sounded from the stage only once, after which the relatives of Tchaikovsky declared the ownership of the musical creation.
• The sponsor of the work is N.F. von Meck.
• The composition is based on the 5th symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven.
• In the fourth part of the work, the composer creates variations on the theme of the Russian folk song "There was a birch in the field".
• In Russian music, the 4th symphony is considered the first symphonic work of a dramatic nature.
• The author discusses the program of his own symphony in a letter to Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck.

Content

4 symphony opens a cycle of three symphonic works completing the creative path. The content of the work for the first time in his life, Tchaikovsky has a tragic connotation. To express the fullness of the musical images, Tchaikovsky chooses Beethoven's 5 symphony as a dramatic model. In this case, the program will be lyric-subjective in nature, because the concept of overcoming Man over Fate is taken as a basis.

The conflict is built on the basis of theatrical drama, the hero of counter-action - rock, fatum and the hero of direct action - the lyrical hero. The name of the conflict is “Man and Fate”. This type of conflict denotes a genre of lyrical musical drama.

Form of work The classical 4th private symphonic cycle, parts of which can be viewed in the context of the overall development of the work:

• I part. Rock and fate. Sincere breakdown.
• II part. Dreams and memories of a happy past.
• III part. The game of imagination.
• Part IV Loneliness in a crowd is a cruel joke of fate.

Introduction plays a huge role in the work. The construction presents a fanfare, marching theme. In cadence, the downward movement is katabasis. This is the theme of grain - fatum. Great role in the structure of the theme - the actor, the leitmotif. It also has a formative role on the verge of construction, at the point of climax. That is how the image of fate will be personified in the work. With the topic of introduction in the future will be associated with a situation of fracture of the lyrical hero.

I part works written in sonata form with an introduction and coda. The exposition is typical for Tchaikovsky and is clearly divided into 2 sections:

• The main part has a lyrical and dramatic character. Three-part form with a development reprise and a dynamic middle. The main theme in the character of the waltz, easy accompaniment emphasizes belonging to the genre. The melody is tonally open, which allows you to further dramatize the work. The tonality of the f-moll is a symbol of the tragic in music.
• A side batch has 2 themes. 1) The first theme has a pastoral, melancholic character. The wood-brass timbre is a reflection of the cultural beginnings of music. 2) The second theme is written in the Sicilian genre, it includes the intonation of the Main Party.

The plot of the conflict occurs on the verge of the end of the exposure and the first development cycles. The topic of introduction appears, the topic of rock. Aggravation of the conflict. The introduction of pipes, the change of a major on the minor of the same name. Fanfare at the trumpet on the bass ostinatnom, enter the three French horn in the C-dur. All this says that a real storm will break out soon. In the development with the help of polyphonic techniques and sequencing, the intonations of the main theme develop, which leads to a climax: a prelude to a reprise. The development of themes, the introduction of the topic of introduction in the trumpet. The appearance of the symbol often used by Tchaikovsky is an altered subdominant chord, which marks death and rock.

The reprise of the main theme in the key of D minor makes the character of music even more gloomy and depressive. The culmination point is characteristic for the composer - this is the counter movement of voices, the sustained dominant organ point. Trombones play a triad.

The entry of the side part symbolizes that the lyrical hero is trying to hide from the onslaught of fate, plunging into dreams: 1 theme sounds in a minor key in the timbre of the bassoon, but how can it be hidden from what was invented by your mind. There is no final game, there is nowhere to run.

Fanfare, the invasion of the topic of introduction, fate again caught me by surprise. The code has several constructions:

1. Chorale;
2. Rising intonations of the main theme acquire a swift character. There is hope for victory over fate.
3. Intrusion of the introduction theme in the horn timbre.

The general culmination of the first movement - the last theme of the lyrical hero - is a tragic monologue. Empty room, loneliness and unbearable pain, but he is still alive. This is not the last word.

II and III parts are contrast shading (addition).

II part - canzone The form consists of three parts with a code. The main theme is the oboe solo, cantilena. The middle part is a pathetic climax. Reprise - psychologization through recitatives. This is a sweet sadness, light melancholy about the past, which was, but it does not change anything. When the code is sad, life goes too fast.

Part III - Scherzo has a lyrical interpretation. The main feature of the piece is the reception of pizzicato strings, reminiscent of folk plucked instruments. Scherzo is translated as a game. The part is a play of imagination, when the hero completely forgets about everything and allows himself to dream up about the past and the future.

The final - This is a continuation of the opposition rock. Form works rondo (popular fun) with the features of sonata. This is a dispersed variation cycle on the theme of the Russian folk song "There was a birch in the field." The two-sided action is characteristic: a mass procession (objective in the world) and a lyrical hero (subjective). A person gets to the carnival of life, he wants to drown out his own pain, looking at the fun of others. But fate again overtakes him, but no one can help him.

If you can not change the situation, it is necessary to change the attitude to it, which happened to the hero. He realized that it is still possible to live, even when nobody cares about you. Only the man himself can help himself and save himself.

The meaning of the work is that a person sometimes seeks the culprit in his own adversities, placing his own blunders on fate, fate, rock. In happy moments, no one wonders why this happens to him. After all, if you are happy, then it is only your merit. Then what's the justice? Can fate be only evil? Or is it just a cover.

The main difference in the content of Beethoven’s 5th symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth symphonic work in the characters. One will fight to the loss of pulse, the other will try to drown out his own pain. But only he who bears responsibility for his life and choice wins.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Symphony №6 "Pathetic"

"Children's album"

The Nutcracker Ballet

The use of music in the cinema

The music of the 4th symphony touches the eternal problem of the struggle of man over fate. Perhaps it was this factor that influenced the use of music in films of various genres:

• Outrage (2016)
• Birdman (2014)
• Swan Lake (2013)
• Extraman (2010)
• Fourth Protocol (1987)
• National Health (1973)
• The Adventures of Ozie and Hariet (1955)
• Profile (1954)
• If you love me (1946)
• Sounds of the Forge at Midnight (1945)

The fourth symphony is a subtle psychological drama that has no plot. The imagination of the listener can come up with absolutely any story. This is the manifestation of Tchaikovsky's genius.