Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Research Paper Example

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is considered one of the most important composers of all time (Burt 2001). His behavior, as described by his students, reflects his strong passion for music. Tchaikovsky has been quite known for ‘the drama and emotional intensity of his music’ (Burt 2001, p.410). Tchaikovsky, who was born in 1840 in Russia (Kidder & Oppenheim 2008, p.3), has delivered a series of important pieces, such as ‘the Symphony Romeo and Juliet and the Ballet Nutcracker’ (Burt 2001, p.410). Tchaikovsky has written music pieces of different styles, including ‘ballets, such as the Swan Lake (1877) and orchestral works’ (Kidder & Oppenheim 2008, p.3). Roeder (1994) notes that the works of Tchaikovsky reflect a unique style of music, being based on the combination of Russian culture and Western music traditions (Roeder 1994, p.293).

It is also noted that Tchaikovsky could play the piano even when holding a pencil, probably to be ready to keep notes or to correct pieces of music written by the students (Poznansky 1999, p.62). Litvinov makes clear that when teaching harmony Tchaikovsky used to emphasize detail, being ‘irritated by the mistakes of students’ (Poznansky 1999, p.62). Gradually, it was revealed that it was his willingness for an exceptional result that led Tchaikovsky to show no tolerance for mistakes (Poznansky 1999, p.62). According to another student, meaning ‘the class in harmony held at the Moscow Conservatory’ (Poznansky 1999, p.62), Tchaikovsky tried always to help students as possible (Poznansky 1999, p.63). At this point, it should be noted that the emphasis on detail has been a characteristic of Tchaikovsky not only regarding the other’s work but also regarding his pieces of music.

            The creation of Piano Concerto I took place in the period between November 1874 and February 1875 (Roeder 1994, p.293). The Concerto was initially written for Nikolay Rubinstein (Roeder 1994, p.293). However, due to their failure of Rubinstein to respond to the demands of the work, Tchaikovsky decided to dedicate the piece to Hans von Bulow who managed to execute the piece quite successfully, a fact that made that work popular worldwide (Roeder 1994, p.293). Piano Concerto I responds to all three characteristics of a successful concerto: it is ‘warm, brilliant and majestic’ (Steen-Nokleberg 1997, p.58). Piano Concerto I has another important characteristic: it is not based on sequence but on the unexpected change of melody (Zajaczkowski 2005, p.54), a fact that gives the above work the feeling of a text which is ‘full of character’ (Zajaczkowski 2005, p.54).

Kavanaugh (1996) also highlights the uniqueness of Piano Concerto I in terms of its elements. According to the above theorist, Piano Concerto I has all elements of a symphony (Kavanaugh 1996, p.109). It is explained that certain parts of the Concerto are slow while parts focusing on humor have been also added (Kavanaugh 1996, p.109). Piano Concerto I has highly influenced the development of music. The specific Concerto revealed that such works do not necessarily ‘stink to the eye’ (Jacobson 2008, p.182).

Piano Concerto I has been a work that revealed the potential of a piano concerto ‘to stink to the ear’ (Jacobson 2008, p.182). At the same time, Piano Concerto I has made clear that the piano can ‘replace an orchestra even for a short period’ (Jacobson 2008, p.182). Before the appearance of the above work, it has been quite difficult for composers to think of the piano as a solo instrument’ (Jacobson 2008, p.182). For the audience also such use of piano would be quite difficult to be accepted (Jacobson 2008, p.182).