Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Overview
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Questions and Answers

What significant event occurred in Tchaikovsky's life in 1854?

  • He became a patron of Madame von Meck.
  • He moved to Moscow.
  • He graduated law school.
  • He began composing music seriously. (correct)

    • Which year did Tchaikovsky compose Swan Lake?

  • 1885
  • 1876
  • 1877 (correct)
  • 1893

    • Which two composers significantly influenced Tchaikovsky's music?

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Robert Schumann (correct)
  • Frédéric Chopin and Johannes Brahms
  • Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky

    • What did Tchaikovsky do after receiving an allowance from Madame von Meck?

    <p>He composed music full-time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a possible cause of Tchaikovsky's death in 1893?

    <p>Cholera from drinking unboiled water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which composer is NOT mentioned as being inspired by British folk music?

    <p>Louis Moreau Gottschalk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is associated with the revival of Mexican folk music in the 20th century?

    <p>Carlos Chávez</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary theme of Stephen Foster's folk music?

    <p>The lives of 19th-century people</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following composers is known for his band marches, including 'The Stars and Stripes Forever'?

    <p>John Philip Sousa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of music did Heitor Villa-Lobos focus on reviving?

    <p>Brazilian folk music</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of the Viennese waltz?

    <p>It is performed by two people turning around each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true about the music for 'Love, the Magician'?

    <p>It incorporates elements of flamenco and symphonic music.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the Coppélia ballet from others of its time?

    <p>It is characterized by its humorous narrative and energetic dances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Kabuki theatre, what is a distinctive feature of the performances?

    <p>Only male actors play all roles, including female characters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which composer is associated with the well-known waltz 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube'?

    <p>Johann Strauss II</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of Tchaikovsky's music in The Sleeping Beauty?

    <p>It includes contrasting themes for various characters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was Swan Lake initially not performed often after its composition?

    <p>Performers found it too challenging to dance to.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the original reception of The Nutcracker at its first performance?

    <p>It was poorly received and considered a flop.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What emotional states does Tchaikovsky's music reflect, based on his personality?

    <p>A mix of melancholy and joyfulness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Tchaikovsky dedicate The Children's Album to?

    <p>His favorite nephew.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major theme expressed in Act II No. 10 of Swan Lake?

    <p>The power of true love.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of The Nutcracker Suite?

    <p>It is a compilation of the ballet's most famous music.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Tchaikovsky's shyness affect his work?

    <p>He was prone to self-criticism and discarded many works.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which element is NOT typically associated with ice dancing?

    <p>Traditional instruments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of Irish dance performance?

    <p>Dancers keep their upper bodies still.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the evolution of the Argentine tango?

    <p>Astor Piazzolla introduced jazz harmonies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which season do South American carnivals typically occur?

    <p>Before Easter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of instruments primarily accompany Polynesian hula performances?

    <p>Traditional instruments like drums and bamboo sticks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which invention is credited to Johann Andreas Stein in the late 1700s?

    <p>The Viennese piano</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant feature did the 'double escapement' action, invented by Sébastien Erard, contribute to piano playing?

    <p>Permitted faster key repetition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pedal allows notes that have already been played to continue sounding while preventing subsequent notes from ringing?

    <p>Sostenuto pedal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defining characteristic differentiates concert grands from other grand piano sizes?

    <p>They reach lengths up to 9 ft 10 in (3 m).</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which material was patented for the first full iron frame for a grand piano in 1843?

    <p>Iron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During what century did the Medici family own one of the earliest known pianos?

    <p>18th century</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of the grand piano's construction is primarily impacted by its size?

    <p>The richness of its tone and resonance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about the harpsichord is accurate?

    <p>It involves plucking strings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which composer is associated with the Peer Gynt Suite?

    <p>Edvard Grieg</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What inspired Manuel de Falla's compositions?

    <p>Spanish themes and dances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following composers experimented with uniquely French sound?

    <p>Maurice Ravel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which work did Mikhail Glinka first use Russian folk melodies?

    <p>A Life for the Tsar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which composer is known for the piece Vltava, portraying the Czech landscape?

    <p>Bedřich Smetana</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a theme in the works of Alexander Scriabin?

    <p>Sentimental and lively melodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of music did Hungarian composer Béla Bartók primarily focus on?

    <p>Folk music themes and rhythms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which notable piece was composed by Paul Dukas?

    <p>The Sorcerer's Apprentice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary goal of the Mighty Handful composers?

    <p>To develop a distinctly Russian musical identity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event marked Mily Balakirev's emergence as a prominent figure in Russian music?

    <p>Founding the St. Petersburg Free School of Music</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Alexander Borodin and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov contribute to Russian music?

    <p>By writing symphonies and blending careers with music</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What material is used to wrap the lower strings of a grand piano?

    <p>Copper wire</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What cultural elements did the Mighty Handful incorporate into their music?

    <p>Elements from Russian legends, stories, and folk traditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major consequence of the internal conflicts within the Mighty Handful in the late 1860s?

    <p>They drifted apart and moved away from Balakirev's leadership</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about piano keys is true?

    <p>Black keys were traditionally made of ebony wood.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many pedals do grand pianos typically have in Europe?

    <p>Two</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following composers is known for works that sound different on a modern piano?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was referred to as the 'Maharaja of the keyboard'?

    <p>Oscar Peterson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which member of the Mighty Handful was known for composing lively choral music and had a career in chemistry?

    <p>Alexander Borodin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary theme explored in Rimsky-Korsakov's opera 'The Tale of Tsar Saltan'?

    <p>Romance and deception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which composer completed the opera 'Prince Igor' after Borodin's long period of work on it?

    <p>Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What musical piece is prominently featured in 'The Tale of Tsar Saltan' and is considered one of Rimsky-Korsakov's most popular works?

    <p>The Flight of the Bumblebee</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is most associated with Borodin's contributions to the Mighty Handful?

    <p>Use of energetic folk themes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    • Born in 1840 into a wealthy family in Votkinsk, Russia.
    • Began composing seriously at age 14, after his mother's death.
    • Graduated law school and became a clerk in 1859.
    • Left his job in 1863 to study at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, graduated four years later.
    • Moved to Moscow in 1866 to teach at the new Conservatory.
    • Composed Swan Lake in 1877 at age 37, experienced a nervous breakdown.
    • Toured Europe and lived in isolation between tours.
    • Died in 1893 in St. Petersburg, likely from cholera.

    Tchaikovsky Influences

    • Inspired by Mozart's dance music, specifically minuets and country dances.
    • Influenced by Schumann's symphonies, choral works, and Children's Album.

    Tchaikovsky's Compositions

    • Known for composing ballets, symphonies, concertos, and operas.
    • Famous for his ballets: Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker.

    The Sleeping Beauty

    • A successful ballet, much of the original production is still performed today.
    • Tchaikovsky incorporates strong emotion through music with two themes: dark, heartless Carabosse; sweet, gentle Lilac Fairy.

    Swan Lake

    • Initially unpopular, conductors, dancers and audiences thought it was too difficult to perform.
    • It remains one of the most demanding ballets.

    The Nutcracker

    • One of the most beloved ballets in the world.
    • It flopped at its first performance in 1892.
    • The music is a popular part of the Christmas season.

    The Children's Album

    • Short piano tunes dedicated to his nephew.
    • 24 easy pieces are intended for children.
    • Titles include: "The Doll's Funeral," "Mama," and "Winter Morning."

    Tchaikovsky's Personality

    • Naturally shy, prone to self-criticism, sometimes destroyed music before others saw it.
    • His melancholic nature influenced his music: sad and emotional, but also joyful and bright.

    National Pride

    • Composers use music to celebrate their country's identity.
    • Sources of inspiration include: scenery, legends, folk songs, and dances.

    Oh! Susanna

    • Written by S.C. Foster.

    United States of America

    • Stephen Foster revived US folk music, songs about 19th-century life.
    • Amy Beach was inspired by European folk music.
    • Louis Moreau Gottschalk used Louisiana Creole music.
    • John Philip Sousa composed Stars and Stripes Forever.

    Central and South America

    • Carlos Chávez revived Mexican folk music and indigenous instruments.
    • Alberto Ginastera used Argentinian rhythms, music suggesting Gaucho ranch work.
    • Heitor Villa-Lobos revived Brazilian folk music.

    Dazzling Dances

    • Different dance styles have distinct costumes, steps, and techniques.
    • Music has inspired dancing since the beginning of time.

    Viennese Waltz (18th Century)

    • A ballroom dance, performed by two people turning and turning around each other.
    • "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" is the best-known Viennese waltz.

    Love, the Magician / El amor brujo (1915, Manuel de Falla)

    • Written for flamenco dance, later updated for symphony, orchestra, and ballet.
    • Story of a Spanish Gypsy haunted by the ghost of her husband.
    • She dances a fire dance with the ghost and he disappears into the flames.

    Coppélia (1870, Léo Delibes, French)

    • Humorous story about a mechanical doll.
    • Includes energetic national dances and character dance.

    Kabuki (17th Century)

    • Japanese dance-drama, all parts, including female, performed by men.
    • Dancers wear elaborate clothes and bright makeup.
    • The music features ever-changing rhythms, played by instruments and voices.

    Grand Piano

    • Known as the “king of instruments.”
    • Has the widest range of notes.
    • The word "piano" is short for "pianoforte," meaning the instrument can be played softly ("piano") or loudly ("forte") based on how hard the player presses the keys.

    Grand Piano History Timeline

    • The santur may be a predecessor of the hammered dulcimer and later the clavichord and harpsichord.
    • Harpsichord first recorded in the 1300s.
    • Clavichords and harpsichords were popular in Europe in the 1500-1700s.
    • Italian Medici family owned a piano, likely made by Bartolomeo Cristofori, around 1700.
    • Johann Andreas Stein created the "Viennese piano," an improved version of the piano.
    • The first "grand piano" was designed by John Broadwood, Robert Stodart, and Americus Backers in 1777, using a harpsichord case.
    • Sébastien Erard invented the "double escapement" (repetition) action, which allowed for faster key playing.
    • The first full iron frame for a grand piano was patented in 1843.
    • Steinway & Sons established a prominent piano company in 1853.

    Grand Piano Sizes

    • Grand pianos come in various sizes: baby grand, grand, and concert grand.
    • Larger pianos have longer strings, especially bass strings, resulting in a richer tone and resonance.

    Piano Pedals

    • Soft Pedal: Makes notes sound softer.
    • Sostenuto Pedal: Allows notes already played to continue but prevents new notes from continuing to sound.
    • Damper Pedal (Sustain Pedal): Allows notes to continue sounding.

    Top Pianists

    • Many classical and romantic piano works were composed by brilliant pianists including: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, and Clara Schumann.
    • Vladimer Askenazy, Nelson Freire, and Idil Biret were 20th-century child prodigy pianists.
    • Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a world-renowned jazz pianist, known as the "Maharaja of the keyboard."

    Hungarian Fantasy

    • Franz Liszt's selection of folk melodies.
    • His piano compositions are accompanied by an orchestra.

    The Mighty Handful

    • Five Russian composers who aimed to develop a unique Russian musical identity.
    • They collaborated: performed new compositions, discussed music, and suggested score modifications to each other.
    • Mily Balakirev (1837-1910): The leader, encouraged other composers, struggled to finish his own music.
    • Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881): Chaotic lifestyle, heavy drinker, influenced his earthy music.
    • Alexander Borodin (1833-1887): A chemist who composed on weekends, most romantic member, known for lively choral music.
    • César Cui (1835-1918): Composed operas and songs for children, inspired by Russian folklore, incorporated elements of Russian folk music.

    The Tale of Tsar Saltan

    • Rimsky-Korsakov loved writing operas.
    • A story of love, betrayal and a prince who is shipwrecked.
    • Famous for the piece, "Flight of the Bumblebee."

    Prince Igor

    • Borodin spent 18 years writing this opera.
    • Rimsky-Korsakov finished it.
    • The story concerns a Russian prince who is captured by nomadic tribes.
    • The opera highlights the energetic Polovetsian dances.

    Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

    • Used folk melodies and Russian themes, but understood and incorporated Western styles of music.

    The Flight of the Bumblebee

    • From Act III of The Tale of Tsar Saltan.
    • The music plays when the Swan-Bird turns the Tsar's son into an insect, the insect then flies to the Tsar.
    • The music is known for being very fast.

    Scandinavia

    • Edvard Grieg created a distinctive Norwegian musical style, Peer Gynt Suite.
    • In Finland, Jean Sibelius used folk music and composed tone poems based on myths.
    • Carl Nielsen (Danish composer) created six unique tonal symphonies in the early 20th century.

    Russia

    • Most music in Russia in the early 19th century came from Europe.
    • Mikhail Glinka developed Russian folk melodies for the opera A Life for the Tsar.
    • The "Mighty Handful" (see page 70), Alexander Scriabin and Sergei Rachmaninoff used folk harmonies, folklore themes with Russian characters, sentimental, lively melodies.

    Spain

    • Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla, and Joaquín Rodrigo created a Romantic Spanish style of music.
    • Inspired by Spanish themes, people, national dances, and Spanish guitar harmonies.
    • Francisco de Goya's paintings, like Bullfight in a Village, inspired the piano suite and opera Goyescas by Enrique Granados.

    France

    • 19th and early 20th-century French composers, such as Camille Saint-Saëns, Gabriel Fauré, Vincent d'Indy, Paul Dukas, Erik Satie, Maurice Ravel, and Francis Poulenc experimented with harmonies, fantastical themes, and instrumentation.
    • The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns is one of the most famous classical pieces.
    • The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1897) by Paul Dukas is based on a ballad about an enchanted broom.

    Eastern Europe

    • Czech composers like Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák (see page 72), and Leoš Janáček developed their country's musical style, creating pieces portraying the Czech landscape.
    • Hungarian composers Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, and Romanian George Enescu experimented with their country's folk music.
    • Smetana's Vltava is a portrayal of the Vltava River in the Czech Republic.

    Ice Dancing

    • A dance form and Olympic sport.
    • All types of music can be used.
    • Skaters perform jumps, spins, and lifts.

    Polynesian Hula

    • Performed by both men and women.
    • Accompanied by traditional instruments: drums (made from gourds), bamboo sticks.

    Argentine Tango

    • A passionate dance.
    • Performers hold each other close while moving to the music.
    • Astor Piazzolla revolutionized the tango in the 20th century.

    Irish Dance

    • Dancers hold their upper body still while moving their legs and feet rapidly.
    • The music is lively and toe-tapping, often performed with a violin.
    • Riverdance (1994) was a worldwide hit.

    South American Carnivals

    • Carnivals happen in South America and the Caribbean before Easter.
    • People parade and party in the streets, dressed in extravagant outfits and dancing to the music of the samba or soca.

    Grand Piano - The Action

    • A key press on the keyboard moves a felt-covered hammer, which hits a steel string.
    • The soundboard vibrates when the strings are played.

    Grand Piano - Strings

    • Made of steel wire.
    • Higher notes have two or three strings, lower notes have strings wrapped in copper wire.
    • Strings are held taut by the iron frame.

    Grand Piano - Keys

    • Black keys (sharps or flats) were traditionally made of ebony.
    • White keys were traditionally made of ivory.
    • Today keys are made of plastic.
    • The pattern of white and black keys is repeated every octave.

    Grand Piano - Pedals

    • Grand pianos in the US have three pedals: soft, sostenuto, and sustain.
    • European pianos have only two: soft and sustain.

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    Description

    Explore the life and works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a prominent Russian composer renowned for his ballets, symphonies, and operas. This quiz covers his early life, education, major influences, and famous compositions like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Test your knowledge about this influential figure in classical music.

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