The Pianist Corner: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Welcome to another musical month!
For this month of May, I will be introducing you to the Russian pianist Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky!
A few facts about him
- He was born on May 7th, 1840 in Votkinsk during the Russian Empire.
- He was one out of seven siblings.
- He began taking piano lessons at the age of five, but never pursued it intentionally (parents regarded it as a hobby).
- At the age of 10, he entered the Imperial School of Jurisprudence in the hopes of becoming a civil servant.
- He graduated when he was 19 years old, and began work at the Ministry of Justice where he spent about 3 years doing civil work.
- His music career took off when the Russian Musical Society was created in 1859 and he began taking classes to become a musical professional (focusing mainly in composition).
- He had a difficult life and romantic failures that affected him emotionally (suffered from depression).
- He died at the age of 53 (the cause of his death is still a debate!).
His music
From his famous Romeo and Juliet to his 1812 Overture, Tchaikovsky's musical style ranges in variety and expression.
His pieces each have their own unique characteristics (like melody and orchestration) which made his repertoire so intriguing and famous around the world.
For my myself, I enjoy listening to his piano solos because of their ethereal and contemplative moods. They almost seem to be trying to say something like, "Welcome to this safe space. Make yourself comfortable and let's chat until sunrise with not a single care in the world to trouble us (and maybe with a little glass of wine to accompany us)" (see link below for a peek!).
However, Tchaikovsky struggled like most of his contemporaries with the incorporation of his heritage into the musical world and trying to bridge the gap between the Western and Russian musical styles and rules. You can find this "conflict of interest" in his very patriotic compositions and influences.
Fortunately, Tchaikovsky was able to navigate with grace these differences and create a sound very unique to himself that while not always accepted by everyone during his time, would later become the treasures they are for us today.
So without further ado, I will leave you below a one-hour excerpt of some his best piano compositions. Hope you take a listen and enjoy his sweet and melodious works of art!
And remember, it is never too late to start (or continue!) following your passions. You may never know when the right time it is for you to make your debut.
Keep on learning and enjoying the process of growth!
Trust the process. Live the commitment.