The Seasons (Tchaikovsky)
Encyclopedia
The Seasons, Op. 37a is a set of twelve short character piece
s for solo piano
by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
. Each piece is the characteristic of a different month of the year in the northern hemisphere. The work is also sometimes heard in orchestral and other arrangements by other hands. Individual excerpts have always been popular - Troika (November) was a favourite encore of Sergei Rachmaninoff
, and Barcarolle (June) was enormously popular and appeared in numerous arrangements (for orchestra, violin, cello, clarinet, harmonium, guitar and even mandolin).
, and continued while he was completing his first ballet, Swan Lake
.
In 1875, Nikolay Matveyevich Bernard, the editor of the St. Petersburg
music magazine Nouvellist, commissioned Tchaikovsky to write 12 short piano pieces, one for each month of the year. Bernard suggested a subtitle for each month's piece. Tchaikovsky accepted the commission and all of Bernard's subtitles, and in the December 1875 edition of the magazine, readers were promised a new Tchaikovsky piece each month throughout 1876. The January and February pieces were written in late 1875 and sent to Bernard in December, with a request for some feedback as to whether they were suitable, and if not, Tchaikovsky would rewrite February and ensure the remainder were in the style Bernard was after. March, April and May appear to have been composed separately; however the remaining seven pieces were all composed at the same time and written in the same copybook, and evidence suggests they were written between 22 April and 27 May. The orchestration of Swan Lake was finished by 22 April, leaving the composer free to focus on other music; and he left for abroad at the end of May. This seems to put the lie to Nikolai Kashkin's published version of events, which was that each month the composer would sit down to write a single piece, but only after being reminded to do so by his valet.
The epigraphs that appeared on publication of the pieces were chosen by Bernard, not by Tchaikovsky. In 1886 the publisher Jurgenson acquired the rights to The Seasons and the piece has been reprinted many times.
Tchaikovsky did not devote his most serious compositional efforts to these pieces; they were composed to order, and they were a way of supplementing his income. However, he saw the writing of music to a commission as just as valid as writing music from his own inner inspiration, however for the former he needed a definite plot or text, a time limit, and the promise of payment at the end. Most of the pieces were in simple ABA form, but each contains a minor melodic masterpiece.
The 12 pieces with their subtitles are:
arranged The Seasons for symphony orchestra in 1942. In 1965, Kurt-Heinz Stolze
orchestrated a number of the pieces as part of the music for John Cranko
's ballet
Onegin. More recent orchestral versions have been produced by David Matthews
(for symphony orchestra), Peter Breiner
(for solo violin and symphony orchestra), and Georgii Cherkin (for solo piano and symphony orchestra).
. Even the title By the Fireside (Am Kamin) was used by Schumann in his Kinderszenen
. The openings of both pieces show a certain kinship in their declamative narration, but rhythm and articulation in Tchaikovsky’s declamation show a marked Slavic tinge lending it a greater epic breath. In Tchaikovsky there is a rather strange rhythmic displacement of the strong beat and we will certainly perceive the downbeat as an upbeat. But the third beat is equally strong, suggesting a certain exaggerated speech pattern used to give the narration an air of expressive significance.
's Venetian Gondola Songs from his Songs Without Words
come to mind when listening to Tchaikovsky's Barcarolle but, whereas Mendelssohn places a monotonous song over an ‘undulating’ accompaniment, Tchaikovsky is more interested in developing the melodic flow. Barcarolle and Troika are the most often-heard pieces from the set.
, which has been adopted by Russian pianists as the ‘standard’ model interpretation.
Once upon a time The Seasons enjoyed enormous popularity. Only recently have they been rediscovered by pianists. In recent years, Yakov Kasman
has made a notable recording of the suite.
Character piece
Character piece is a literal translation of the German Charakterstück, a term, not very precisely defined, used for a broad range of 19th century piano music based on a single idea or program...
s for solo piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
. Each piece is the characteristic of a different month of the year in the northern hemisphere. The work is also sometimes heard in orchestral and other arrangements by other hands. Individual excerpts have always been popular - Troika (November) was a favourite encore of Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, and Barcarolle (June) was enormously popular and appeared in numerous arrangements (for orchestra, violin, cello, clarinet, harmonium, guitar and even mandolin).
Background
The Seasons was commenced shortly after the premiere of Tchaikovsky's First Piano ConcertoPiano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)
The Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky between November 1874 and February 1875. It was revised in the summer of 1879 and again in December 1888. The first version received heavy criticism from Nikolai Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky's desired pianist....
, and continued while he was completing his first ballet, Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
.
In 1875, Nikolay Matveyevich Bernard, the editor of the St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
music magazine Nouvellist, commissioned Tchaikovsky to write 12 short piano pieces, one for each month of the year. Bernard suggested a subtitle for each month's piece. Tchaikovsky accepted the commission and all of Bernard's subtitles, and in the December 1875 edition of the magazine, readers were promised a new Tchaikovsky piece each month throughout 1876. The January and February pieces were written in late 1875 and sent to Bernard in December, with a request for some feedback as to whether they were suitable, and if not, Tchaikovsky would rewrite February and ensure the remainder were in the style Bernard was after. March, April and May appear to have been composed separately; however the remaining seven pieces were all composed at the same time and written in the same copybook, and evidence suggests they were written between 22 April and 27 May. The orchestration of Swan Lake was finished by 22 April, leaving the composer free to focus on other music; and he left for abroad at the end of May. This seems to put the lie to Nikolai Kashkin's published version of events, which was that each month the composer would sit down to write a single piece, but only after being reminded to do so by his valet.
The epigraphs that appeared on publication of the pieces were chosen by Bernard, not by Tchaikovsky. In 1886 the publisher Jurgenson acquired the rights to The Seasons and the piece has been reprinted many times.
Tchaikovsky did not devote his most serious compositional efforts to these pieces; they were composed to order, and they were a way of supplementing his income. However, he saw the writing of music to a commission as just as valid as writing music from his own inner inspiration, however for the former he needed a definite plot or text, a time limit, and the promise of payment at the end. Most of the pieces were in simple ABA form, but each contains a minor melodic masterpiece.
The 12 pieces with their subtitles are:
- January: At the Fireside (A major)
- February: Carnival (D major)
- March: Song of the Lark (G minor)
- April: Snowdrop (B flat major)
- May: Starlit Nights (G major)
- June: Barcarolle (G minor)
- July: Song of the Reapers (E flat major)
- August: Harvest (B minor)
- September: The Hunt (G major)
- October: Autumn Song (D minor)
- November: Troika (E major)
- December: Christmas (A flat major)
Orchestral arrangements
A number of musicians have orchestrated Tchaikovsky's pieces. Aleksandr GaukAleksandr Gauk
Aleksandr Vassilievich Gauk was a Russian/Soviet conductor and composer.Aleksandr Gauk was born in Odessa in 1893. He recalled his first experience as hearing army bands and his mother singing and accompanying herself at the piano...
arranged The Seasons for symphony orchestra in 1942. In 1965, Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Kurt-Heinz Stolze was a German pianist, harpsichordist and composer.He was born in Hamburg. He studed piano, organ and conducting at the Hamburg Conservatory with Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg. His first engagement was as repetiteur at the Royal Opera, Copenhagen. In 1957 he joined the Württemberg...
orchestrated a number of the pieces as part of the music for John Cranko
John Cranko
John Cyril Cranko was a choreographer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Stuttgart Ballet....
's ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
Onegin. More recent orchestral versions have been produced by David Matthews
David Matthews
David Matthews may refer to:* Dave Matthews , singer/guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band* David Matthews , MP for Swansea East 1919–1922* David Matthews , American bi-racial author...
(for symphony orchestra), Peter Breiner
Peter Breiner
Peter Breiner is a Slovak pianist, conductor, and composer.Breiner began to play and study the piano at age four. At age nine, he started to study at Conservatory in Košice, Slovakia...
(for solo violin and symphony orchestra), and Georgii Cherkin (for solo piano and symphony orchestra).
Poetic epigraphs
Following is a translation of some of the poetic epigraphs contained in the Russian edition (all chosen by the publisher Nikolay Bernard):- Janvier (January): Au coin du feu (At the Fireside)
- A little corner of peaceful bliss,
- the night dressed in twilight;
- the little fire is dying in the fireplace,
- and the candle has burned out.
- (Alexander Pushkin)
- Février (February): Carnaval (Carnival)
- At the lively Mardi Gras
- soon a large feast will overflow.
- (Pyotr VyazemskyPyotr VyazemskyPrince Pyotr Andreyevich Vyazemsky or Petr Andreevich Viazemsky was a leading personality of the Golden Age of Russian poetry.- Biography :...
)
- Mars (March): Chant de l'alouette (Song of the Lark)
- The field shimmering with flowers,
- the stars swirling in the heavens,
- the song of the lark
- fills the blue abyss.
- (Apollon MaykovApollon MaykovApollon Nikolayevich Maykov was a Russian poet.He was born into the artistic family of Nikolay Apollonovich Maykov, a painter and an academic. In 1834 the family moved to Petersburg. In 1837-1841 Maykov studied law at Saint Petersburg University. At first he was attracted to painting, but he soon...
)
- Avril (April): Perce-neige (Snowdrop)
- The blue, pure snowdrop — flower,
- and near it the last snowdrops.
- The last tears over past griefs,
- and first dreams of another happiness.
- (A. Maykov)
- Mai (May): Les nuits de mai (Starlit Nights)
- What a night!
- What bliss all about!
- I thank my native north country!
- From the kingdom of ice,
- snowstorms and snow,
- how fresh and clean May flies in!
- (Afanasy FetAfanasy FetAfanasy Afanasyevich Fet , was a Russian poet regarded as one of the finest lyricists in Russian literature.-Origins:...
)
- Juin (June): Barcarolle (Barcarolle)
- Let us go to the shore;
- there the waves will kiss our feet.
- With mysterious sadness
- the stars will shine down on us.
- (Aleksey Pleshcheyev)
- Juillet (July): Chant du faucheur (Song of the Reaper)
- Move the shoulders,
- shake the arms!
- And the noon wind
- breathes in the face!
- (Aleksey KoltsovAleksey KoltsovAleksey Vasilievich Koltsov was a Russian poet who has been called a Russian Burns. His poems, frequently placed in the mouth of women, stylize peasant-life songs and idealize agricultural labour....
)
- Août (August): La moisson (Harvest)
- The harvest has grown,
- people in families cutting the tall rye down to the root!
- Put together the haystacks,
- music screeching all night from the hauling carts.
- (A. Koltsov)
- Septembre (September): La chasse (Hunting)
- It is time!
- The horns are sounding!
- The hunters in their hunting dress are mounted on their horses;
- in early dawn the borzois are jumping.
- (A. Pushkin, Graf Nulin)
- Octobre (October): Chant d'automne (Autumn Song)
- Autumn, falling down on our poor orchard,
- the yellow leaves are flying in the wind.
- (Aleksey Nikolayevich TolstoyAleksey Nikolayevich TolstoyAleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy , nicknamed the Comrade Count, was a Russian and Soviet writer who wrote in many genres but specialized in science fiction and historical novels...
)
- Novembre (November): Troïka (Troika)
- In your loneliness do not look at the road,
- and do not rush out after the troika.
- Suppress at once and forever the fear of longing in your heart.
- (Nikolay Nekrasov)
- Décembre (December): Noël (Christmas)
- Once upon a Christmas night the girls were telling fortunes:
- taking their slippers off their feet and throwing them out of the gate.
- (Vasily ZhukovskyVasily ZhukovskyVasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky was the foremost Russian poet of the 1810s and a leading figure in Russian literature in the first half of the 19th century...
)
Romantic traits
Some of these miniatures reveal a strong influence of Robert SchumannRobert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
. Even the title By the Fireside (Am Kamin) was used by Schumann in his Kinderszenen
Kinderszenen
Kinderszenen , Opus 15, by Robert Schumann, is a set of thirteen pieces of music for piano written in 1838. In this work, Schumann provides us with his adult reminiscences of childhood. Schumann had originally written 30 movements for this work, but chose 13 for the final version...
. The openings of both pieces show a certain kinship in their declamative narration, but rhythm and articulation in Tchaikovsky’s declamation show a marked Slavic tinge lending it a greater epic breath. In Tchaikovsky there is a rather strange rhythmic displacement of the strong beat and we will certainly perceive the downbeat as an upbeat. But the third beat is equally strong, suggesting a certain exaggerated speech pattern used to give the narration an air of expressive significance.
Barcarolle (June)
Felix MendelssohnFelix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
's Venetian Gondola Songs from his Songs Without Words
Songs without Words
Songs Without Words is a series of short, lyrical piano pieces by the Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn.-Composition and reception:...
come to mind when listening to Tchaikovsky's Barcarolle but, whereas Mendelssohn places a monotonous song over an ‘undulating’ accompaniment, Tchaikovsky is more interested in developing the melodic flow. Barcarolle and Troika are the most often-heard pieces from the set.
Troika (November)
In Troïka one can hear the jingling sleigh-bells in the right hand. Where Tchaikovsky came from, this was very Russian. "Troika" is also considered the most challenging piece out of Tchaikovsky's very own selection of "The Seasons" because of such a rapidly moving melodic flow, a few "outbursts" to forte, and it also expresses a somewhat complicating technique which delivers a strong variety of feelings to the interpreters and listeners of "Troika" as shown in the music sheets in the book: "Tchaikovsky The Seasons Opus 37bis" which was edited and recorded by Alexandre Dossin. Troika has become famous in the interpretation of Sergei RachmaninoffSergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, which has been adopted by Russian pianists as the ‘standard’ model interpretation.
Song of the Autumn (October), Christmas (December)
Less known are October and December. The elegiac Song of the Autumn and the elegant characteristic salon waltz Christmas could be music right out of Tchaikovsky's operas or ballets respectively.Once upon a time The Seasons enjoyed enormous popularity. Only recently have they been rediscovered by pianists. In recent years, Yakov Kasman
Yakov Kasman
Yakov Kasman is a Russian classical pianist, professor of piano, and artist-in-residence at the University of Alabama at Birmingham....
has made a notable recording of the suite.