Discovering Tchaikovsky: The Maestro of Russian Music

Today, we will explore the world of the most respected and loved Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I think he is one of the most performed Russian composers in the world. And I don't believe there is a single music lover who does not love and adore his operas, ballets, symphonies, chamber music, and, of course, solo piano music.

The Masterpiece: The Seasons

We will be discussing an absolute gem, a masterpiece from his piano miniatures cycle, The Seasons.

A Pioneering Composer

It's fair to say that not everybody knows that Tchaikovsky was the first Russian professional composer. He was born in 1840. By that time, composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart had already lived their lives and created their masterpieces. But in Russia, as we know, things come later.

The Turning Point: 1861

1861 was a very important year for Russian history.

• Serfdom, or slavery, was abolished.
• Cultural and social growth began.

The outstanding Russian pianist and conductor Anton Rubinstein started music classes in St. Petersburg, initially called the Russian Musical Society. Tchaikovsky was one of the first students there.

In 1862, the Russian Musical Society was officially established. Just a year later, Anton Rubinstein opened the first Russian conservatory in St. Petersburg, and, of course, Tchaikovsky was a student there as well.

The Rise of Conservatories

Four years later, in 1866, Anton's younger brother, Nicholas Rubinstein, who was also a very famous composer, pianist, and conductor, opened the Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky was very friendly with both brothers.

In 1861, a young man named Peter Jurgenson, born in Tallinn, Estonia, of Scandinavian descent, moved to Russia. He was so inspired by Nicholas Rubinstein that he started his own music publishing house.

• He began publishing musical scores and books about music.
• For half a century, it became the main Russian musical publishing house and one of the largest in the world.

Lifelong Friendship and Collaboration

In 1865, after Tchaikovsky graduated from the Conservatory, he and Jurgenson became lifelong friends. Jurgenson served as Tchaikovsky's advisor and confidant for the rest of his life.

After the 1917 October Revolution, the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin nationalized Jurgenson's publishing house by decree, and it became a state publishing house called Musica or Music.

In 2008, the current owner and CEO of the publishing house, Mark Zilberquid, revitalized Peter Jurgenson's legacy, forming a conglomerate with Musica Music and Peter Jurgenson. One of the most important efforts was publishing the complete catalog of Tchaikovsky's works, similar to what KTripletchel did for Mozart.

Editions of The Seasons

I wanted to show you two editions today of The Seasons that we will be using:

1. First Edition:

   • Contains Tchaikovsky's autograph or text for 11 pieces out of 12 (for some reason, the April piece did not survive).
   • Includes an article about the creation of the cycle and details about each piece.

2. Second Edition:

   • Features fingering options and numerous suggestions for switching hands to aid in learning.