Tchaikovsky's Romances
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s chamber-vocal work can rightly be called the real pinnacle of Russian vocal lyricism. His romances are striking expressive images and incredible lyricism. Tchaikovsky felt the poetry very sensitively, paying attention to the melodiousness and rhythm of the poems.
Features of Tchaikovsky's romances
What is a romance? This is a small vocal work, which is based on a poetic text of lyrical content. His homeland is considered sunny Spain, hence the name romance (Romance). In Russia, this genre appeared only in the second half of the 18th century, rapidly gaining great popularity. Since then, many composers composed romances, conveying to them sometimes the most sincere and even intimate feelings.
P.I. Tchaikovsky paid attention to the genre of romance throughout the entire creative journey, touching on various topics. In general, researchers of the composer's creativity call his chamber-vocal heritage a kind of lyric diary.
Tchaikovsky composed his vocal works primarily for an ordinary listener, which is why they are so close to urban everyday romance. All the feelings in them are shown extremely sincerely, but at the same time they are easy to understand, and the music follows the text keenly, revealing to the audience all the deep meaning.
Love to this genre was largely due to the fact that Tchaikovsky literally from childhood warmly treated to romance, listening to the works of Alyabyev, Varlamov, Schumann. In addition, he learned a lot in the works of M. Glinka and Dargomyzhsky.
Despite this, the vocal lyrics of Peter Ilyich are different and are distinguished by their individual peculiarities. Some researchers note that Tchaikovsky's romances are endowed with "operatic". This is not surprising, given that the composer devoted a lot of time to his operatic creativity.
Tchaikovsky wrote his first works in this genre while still a student at the School of Law. It is noteworthy that one of the last works of the composer was a cycle of romances to poems by D. Ratgauz.
Selection of poems
What was Tchaikovsky guided by when choosing a poetic text for his romances? Such a question often worries fans of his work. It is not surprising, because sometimes the composer paid attention to a little-known poet, seemingly ignoring recognized authors. Sometimes in the poem of the maestro only one bright artistic image or a single line could attract the attention. Nevertheless, most of the vocal creativity was written on poems by famous authors: A. Fet, F. Tyutchev, N. Nekrasov, G. Heine, G. Goethe, and others. Most often the composer was attracted by the work of Russian poets because of the musicality of poems and their elegance of form. Tchaikovsky noted the extraordinary brightness and emotionality of the works of A. Tolstoy and A. Apukhtin. A. Feta the composer called the poet-musician at all.
Interesting Facts
- Pyotr Ilyich himself also composed poems, to which he devoted quite a lot of time. The vocal trio "Nature and Love" was written by him in his own words.
- It is no coincidence that researchers of Tchaikovsky’s artistic heritage note the similarity of opera and chamber-vocal works. It is often possible to find in romances features of future arias or even heroes of operas. In addition, the composer’s vocal work is very close to his symphonic works.
- Already in the very first romances, researchers find the features of symphony. This is manifested in an intense melody, developed accompaniment, imaginative music and dramatic power.
- Tchaikovsky wrote over 100 romances to poems by various authors.
- Tchaikovsky preferred to sign his own poems with the pseudonym N.N.One of the most popular romances "Amid the Noise Ball" attracted not only Tchaikovsky, but two musicians at once: B. Sheremetyev and A. Shefer turned their attention to Tolstoy’s composition. Tchaikovsky made some changes in some texts.
- In total, Tchaikovsky’s chamber-vocal heritage includes 103 romances and songs, as well as seven ensembles.
Creation history and content
The composer composed his first work in this genre on A. Fet's poetic text. "My angel, my genius". All the early vocal works of Peter Ilyich are attributed by researchers to the sublime love lyrics. Joy and pain, melancholy and fun are closely intertwined here. It is noteworthy that a rather simple vocal part often coexists with a complex accompaniment. Tchaikovsky published his first vocal works in 1869, besides the very first, they also include "Song of Zemfira", "Midnight", "No, only the one who knew", "From what?". Researchers attribute these works to the lyrical-elegiac line, which reveals the sadness associated with regret for lost happiness.
The 70s are associated with the creative rise of the composer, it was during this period that he wrote about half of all his chamber-vocal works. In these samples the range of images expands significantly, and there are much more expressive means.
Tchaikovsky's interest in national color is noticeably prominent. This is evidenced by romances "Canary" (ff. Mey), "Evening" (f. Shevchenko), "Ali mother gave birth to me", "Balovitsa" (A. Mickiewicz), "Serenade Don-Juan" (A. Tolstoy).
The romance "Reconciliation" (lyrics by N. Scherbyna) is considered one of the most dramatic. The vocal part plunges listeners into hard thoughts about lost dreams. Romance melody has an expressive character.
In 1878 and 1880, Tchaikovsky composed several series of romances that stand out noticeably among his other works. Most of them are written on the verses of A. Tolstoy. "Amid the din of the ball" - one of them. In it, the atmosphere of the verse is sensitive and incredibly accurate. It is noteworthy that the words were written in 1851, and the romance itself in 1878. Tolstoy composed his creation especially for the future wife of Sofia Miller. It is not by chance that the atmosphere of the ball is shown in the work, since he met her at a masquerade ball in honor of the New Year. Of course, Sofia Andreevna’s face was hidden by a mask, like the rest of those present, but nevertheless, the girl was able to hit I. Turgenev and A. Tolstoy. At that time she was still married, but this did not prevent Tolstoy from falling in love with a girl at first sight. After 12 years, the beloved were able to get married. For this romance, Tchaikovsky did not accidentally choose the waltz genre, but despite the atmosphere of the ball, all the attention in the musical part is focused on lovers, their feelings and experiences.
Among Tchaikovsky's romances there are patterns that reveal the beauty of nature. "I bless you, forests ..." (words by A. Tolstoy) one of them. At the same time, the composer’s religious and philosophical quest is also concentrated; therefore, it would be more appropriate to attribute him to monologues. The first bars convey a serious atmosphere and acquire traits of a choral type. The romance "Does the Day Reign ..." (words. Apukhtin) belongs to the same subject matter. The whole work as if flooded with bright rays of the sun. A large role in this work is given to the accompaniment, saturated with turbulent passages. If we compare the romance with the operas by Tchaikovsky, then it would be more appropriate to equate Robert’s arias from Iolanta.
The theme of women's fate is widely disclosed in Tchaikovsky's vocal works. The composer wrote a whole series of romances on this topic. "If only I knew, if I knew" (fr. Tolstoy), "Am I in the field and not a grass was" (words by I. Surikov) are one of them. In these works, the national flavor is vividly represented; it is expressed not only in the vocal part, but also in the accompaniment.
In the future, the drama in his romances only intensifies. This is not noticeably an example of works from op. 57 "On the yellow fields" (Tolstoy). It is surprising that in the verbal text there is no such hopeless despair, it is more appropriate to attribute it to melancholy, thoughtful mood associated with peace and quiet. Tchaikovsky saw the content of the poem somewhat differently. His nature is painted in gloomy tones, in the introduction one can hear blows resembling a bell. Desperate suffering permeates the entire romance, leaving behind only anguish and loneliness.
Genre-characteristic romances
Aloof in the work of Tchaikovsky stand out works endowed with genre-characteristic features. One of them is romance "Nightingale" (A. Pushkin). It is written on the basis of words from the "Songs of the Western Slavs".
This series also includes "Gypsy Song" (Polonsky). In the romance one can hear subtle gloomy tones, which are hidden from strangers by some mystery. The refrain here sounds unusual, in which the composer used the Phrygian mode.
Around the end of the 80s, Tchaikovsky departs from the genre of romance for almost five years and pays attention to his major works. After a short break, he creates 6 magnificent romances to poems by D. Ratgauz. That they belong to the latest models in this genre. Written while working on the Sixth Symphony, they are full of sadness and sincerity.
Songs for children of Tchaikovsky
Among the vocal works of Pyotr Ilyich, songs that he composed for children are notable. This is a cycle that consists of 16 numbers. They are written on verses of Pleshcheyev, Surikov and Aksakov. These works are addressed specifically to children, tell about their interests, are filled with relevant topics. Among this cycle, some of the most popular are songs. "My garden", "Spring", "Cuckoo". Despite the fact that some researchers nevertheless note the closeness of this cycle to the work of Musorgsky, yet Tchaikovsky’s works for children are perceived somewhat differently. They successfully perform their main function - they serve for the musical education of children.
Romances PI Tchaikovsky, his lyric diary, convey the depth and sincerity of feelings. Musical images, bright intonations, as well as the richness of the musical language, amaze and fascinate the listener from the very first bars. All the poetry of the verse can be felt through the music of P.I. Tchaikovsky, who was always very sensitive to his every smallest feature, sharing his observations with the audience with the help of musical sounds.
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