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Chapter 2 Peter Tschaikowsky
(1840-1893, died at 53 years old)
Tchaikovsky had a strong interest in music from an early age, but his parents had an environment where music was one of their hobbies, and he graduated from law school and became a government official. However, as a graduate of the 1st class of Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, he also taught as a musician. In his early days, he interacted with the Russian Nationalist “The Mighty Five”, including Parakilev, and was influenced by his teacher Anton Rubinstein during his time at the Conservatory, and his style was rooted in Western European traditions. He married his student at the age of 37 but soon divorced. After that, he often lived in Switzerland, Italy, and France, and devoted himself to his compositions with the pension assistance of Mrs. Mech, a millionaire widow. He returned to Moscow at the age of 45 and entered his most fulfilling period of musical activities. However, contrary to his growing fame, his health deteriorated due to overwork, and he died of typhus in Saint Petersburg at the age of 53. Mrs. Mech's assistance was discontinued by then.
I had experienced the bombing of Tokyo at home in Shibuya-ku in March 1945, several months earlier of the end of the war on August 15, 1945 (World War II also called “Pacific War” ended 76 years ago). I moved to Minami-Azumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture (currently Azumino-shi) in June of that year due to evacuation. Six years later in 1952, since the house in Shibuya, where I used to live, was burned down, my family moved to live in Ota-ku, Tokyo.
After the war, I remember my father, despite his busy daily work and life, taking care of his rose garden and listening to several records daily, at our home in Ota-ku, Tokyo.
One was Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique Symphony", and the other was "Blue Canary" sung by American pop singer Dinah Sure. I had never had an opportunity to ask my father why he listened to these two pieces of music repeatedly. Naturally, the first thing I knew about Tchaikovsky was the melancholic and sweet melody of "Pathetique Symphony" that burned into my mind since childhood.
Remembering my mother, my mother was an avid reader, especially she liked "MANYOH-SHU", and I remember that she was looking forward to taking a short monthly trip with her circle of friends relating to MANYOH-SHU. In addition, I remember that my mother participated in an annual memorial trip for her second brother, who died on board as the chief accountant of the battleship Mutsu, which sank off Hashira-jima (Island) in 1943 due to an unexplained explosion.
The characteristic of Tchaikovsky's work is that it is full of sweet melody and melancholy taste, and I think that there are many melodies that can be hummed so easily.
Among Tchaikovsky's works, I decided to re-listen to the memorable melody, Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique Symphony", Piano Concerto No. 1, and Violin Concerto. After that, three major ballet music I listened again and believed that this is the essence of classical ballet. "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker" are wonderful, and the ballet suite "Sleeping Beauty" (op. 66) is as light and enjoyable as the fifth piece "Waltz" which expresses the title of the song. Also, "Andante Cantabile" (String Quartet No. 1 in D major, 2nd movement) is filled with Tchaikovsky’s sweet melody.
For your reference the following is a list of the composer's works that I listened this time.
* (1) Symphony No. 5 in E minor (op. 64): When I listen to it again, I think it is a masterpiece full of sweet melody and melancholy taste that is as good as No. 6 "Pathetique Symphony".
* ② Symphony No. 6 in B minor "Pathetique Symphony" (op. 74): A feeling of desperate grief drifts in all the masterpiece, and I think that the effect is unparalleled.
※ ③ Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor (op. 23): In 1874, Tschaikowsky was 34 years old, and wrote in just one month. The music with a magnificent opening is rich and elegant and is one of the most memorable masterpieces. Hiroko Nakamura's performance with the NHK Symphonic Orchestra (1997) is memorable.
* ④ Violin Concerto in D major (work 35): Strangely, Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto was composed in 1878 when he was 38 years old in the same year Brahms' violin concerto was composed. It was unpopular at the time of the premiere as it is a difficult piece to perform, but it is now a well-played masterpiece. Akiko Suwanai's performance at the Moscow State University Hall, the youngest winner of the Tchaikovsky International Competition (1990), did not stop the audience's applause even after all the musicians left the stage. I was impressed by the performance that is full of mutual trust between a violinist Sayaka Shoji and Conductor Yuri Termikanov with St. Peterburg Symphony Orchestra at NHK Music Festival in 2008.
* ⑤ Ballet Suite "Swan Lake" (op. 20): The reason why ballet lovers were first drawn in and became ballet fans is the flowing and fast-paced melody that makes me think from this work. The performance of the Swiss Romand Orchestra conducted by Ansermet is light, delicate, and comfortable.
* ⑥ Ballet Suite "The Nutcracker" (op. 71): The last work of the so-called three major ballets. The story is based on the fairy tale, which is the story of Hoffman's fairy tale and the events in the country of toys and sweets that happened at Christmas, and I think it is a masterpiece that shows a lot of creativity and imagination and makes it fun and beautiful music.
* ⑦ Serenade for Strings in C major (op. 48): While oozing the influence of German music such as Bach and Brahms, the unique slab-like melancholy oozes out everywhere and is beautiful. In particular, the first movement has a melody reminiscent of flowers blooming in small hills and small fish swimming in the depths of a small pond. The second movement has a sweet melody played at the opening of NHK Symphony Orchestra Hour (1995) and others. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a masterpiece among the masterpieces that you want to listen to forever. The performance of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis is excellent.
September10, 2021
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