Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on the 7th of May 1840 in Votkinsk, Russia. Born into a middle-class family the young Tchaikovsky showed promise from an early age, becoming adept in French and German by the age of just 6 years old. His ability to learn also extended to music and he began to accomplish the piano at the age of 5. He was naturally gifted at the piano and reportedly told his parents that he could not sleep at night because he had musical compositions flowing through his mind, keeping him awake.
Tchaikovsky’s parents sent him to the School of Jurisprudence when he was 10 years old to prepare him for a career in the civil service. They did not fully realize the extent of their gifted son’s talents and felt he needed to be prepared for a stable future. While at the school Tchaikovsky all but dropped his musical studies, but after his graduation in 1859 he took up the study of music once again, taking lessons at the St Petersburg Conservatory. Rediscovering his deep passion for music Tchaikovsky resigned from his civil service job in 1863 to study music at the Conservatory full time.
Freed from his job in the civil service Tchaikovsky was once again able to return to the full time study of music. He enrolled at the St Petersburg Conservatory and was mentored by Anton Rubenstein the director and founder of the Conservatory. Tchaikovsky learned instrumentation and composition under Rubenstein and graduated with flying colors from the conservatory in 1865.
Tchaikovsky’s music became widely known and well regarded between 1875 and 1892. Noted for its melodic qualities Tchaikovsky is perhaps best known for his compositions for classical ballet. During this time Tchaikovsky wrote his ballet masterpiece’s Swan Lake in 1876, Sleeping Beauty in 1889 and The Nutcracker in 1892. Tchaikovsky’s personal life was more troubled however and at one point he entered into an ill-fated 9-week marriage.
Tchaikovsky’s personal life continued to be troubled and much is attributed to the loss of his mother when he was a teenager. It is thought that his loss caused him emotional turmoil throughout his whole life. In 1891 he left for the United States where he began a tour conducting – something he never felt comfortable doing. Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony Pathetique premiered in October 1893 but was not well received and it is thought this may have been down to the fact that Tchaikovsky was conducting. In later years Pathetique received greater critical acclaim.
Tchaikovsky died from cholera it is believed he contracted it after drinking contaminated water. He died in St Petersburg on November the 6th 1893. Tchaikovsky would never know that his symphony Pathetique would go on to receive great success as his death came only one week after its premiere.
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This post was written by admin on November 3, 2010



