[Tchaikovsky] Pick up famous and representative pieces!
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a towering composer who represents Romantic-era Russia.
From ballet music such as Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty to works like the Piano Concerto No.
1 and several symphonies, he created numerous masterpieces that continue to be loved to this day.
Tchaikovsky’s music conveys richly colored, delicate melodies and a brilliant, dramatic musicality.
In this article, we introduce Tchaikovsky’s celebrated and representative works.
We’ve selected pieces ranging from famous tunes to lesser-known gems worthy of being called masterpieces—be sure to check them out!
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[Tchaikovsky] A Selection of Famous and Representative Works (21–30)
Children’s Album, Op. 39 – No. 20: The WitchPyotr Tchaikovsky
Steeped in an ominous atmosphere that suggests something bad is about to happen, this piece is one of the works from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s piano collection Album pour enfants, Op.
39, dedicated to his nephew.
The collection is said to have been a heartfelt gift, with sketches for all the pieces completed by May 1878.
In this piece, the witch’s uncanny aura and comically terrifying character are portrayed amid a rapid tempo, making it perfect for the Halloween mood.
The first edition of the collection, including this piece, was published in October 1878.
It’s great as background music, but if you play it on the piano, it’s sure to liven up any party.
Aim for a dramatic performance with a sense of speed and crisp articulation, as if a witch were darting through the air!
Suite ‘The Nutcracker,’ Op. 71a – TrepakPyotr Tchaikovsky
How about the suite The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky? This piece comes from the ballet The Nutcracker.
While the original is known as an orchestral work, there are also scores arranged for piano four hands.
Among those, a particularly popular and dazzling selection is the Russian Dance, or Trepak.
Some people associate it with the movie Home Alone, but the piece used in the film is a different work composed very much in a similar vein with a similar character.
From the very beginning, the music bursts with a lively melody and a sense of drive.
Thanks to its brilliant, joyful character, it’s an excellent recommendation as a duet piece for a recital.
Trepak from The Nutcracker ballet musicPyotr Tchaikovsky
In The Nutcracker, the Russian dance is performed.
It’s a lively number that showcases astounding jumping ability against a brilliant brass accompaniment.
The stomping, earthy melody in the middle section played by the low strings has a distinctly Russian flavor that gives it great character.
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23Pyotr Tchaikovsky
It is known as one of the most famous piano concertos.
Nikolai Rubinstein, the director of the Moscow Conservatory and a friend of the composer, initially dismissed the piece with harsh criticism, but later recognized its true value and performed it frequently in concerts, helping to bring it to public attention.
Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24Pyotr Tchaikovsky
An opera completed in 1878 based on Pushkin’s verse novel.
It is performed in the scene where the protagonist, Onegin, reunites at a ball with Tatyana, whose love he once coldly rejected.
Beginning with a resounding fanfare, this piece evokes a vision of elegantly dressed men and women dancing in splendor.
Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50, “In Memory of a Great Artist”Pyotr Tchaikovsky
A piece composed as a musical tribute to Nikolai Rubinstein.
A pervasive sense of grief and grandeur runs through it, conveying Tchaikovsky’s sorrow over the loss of his old friend.
While the violin melody stands out, the rich sonority of the piano and the understated yet lyrical lines of the cello are also highlights.
Concert Fantasy in G major, Op. 56Pyotr Tchaikovsky
A piece first premiered in 1885.
It opens with a bright and charming first movement, followed by a second movement in which a somewhat wistful piano melody intertwines with rhythmic musical ideas.
The orchestra and piano are performed as if independently, making for a striking contrast between the two.