A Biography of a Great Composer and History Composition of Piano Concerto No. 1

Born on May 7, 1840 in Votkinsk, Russia

In September 1844, first attempt at composition, "Our Mama in Petersburg”

Tchaikovsky turned to serious composition at age 14

Among his early works were an opera, Hyperbola, a waltz for piano, and his first published work, the song Mezza notte

Attended School of Jurisprudence in St. Petersburg from 1849 to 1861 Outside of school, he attended the

performances of very famous musicians, such as Clara Schumann, and also frequented the Italian opera

On Sundays, he took music lessons from the pianist, Rudolph Kundinger

At 19, he completed his studies and began working as a clergy.

In 1857, the Russian Musical Society was formed and Tchaikovsky signed up for classes taught by Nikolai Zaremba

Tchaikovsky quit his job to study music at age 23

Attended St. Petersburg Conservatory from 1862 to 1866

Studied with Anton Rubinstain.

Before graduating, Tchaikovsky composed “Overture in F” and the “String Quartet Movement in B flat”

Anton Rubinstain brought “Character Dances” to the attention of composer, Johann Strauss, who conducted it 1865

After graduating, he was invited to teach at the new Moscow Conservatory

From 1866 to 1878, he was appointed professor of theory and harmony

1866, he composed his first symphony, "Winter Daydreams"

1868, he composed his first opera, The Voevoda

1869, he composed the symphonic fantasia, "Fatum“

1869, he composed another opera, Undina

1869, he composed an overture-fantasia, "Romeo and Juliet"

1871, he composed String Quartet No. 1, as well as some other piano pieces and songs

1872, he composed his third opera, The Oprichnik , and also began work on his second symphony, "Little Russian"

1874, Tchaikovsky composed his First Piano Concerto as well as his third symphony

1875-1876, he composed the first of his famed trilogy of ballets, Swan Lake

1876, he composed a series of twelve piano pieces, which became popularly known as The Seasons for a music magazine, The Nuvellist

1876, he composed two symphonic fantasias, Francesca da Rimini and The Tempest, as well as incidental music for the play, The Snow Maiden

Tchaikovsky married his student, Antonina Milyukova, in July of 1877

Lasted only two to three months

Nadezhda von Meck, the widow of a wealthy railway magnate, had heard of his marriage break-up and began to commission pieces from him

Left teaching position dedicate himself to his creative work during the years of 1876 to 1890.

1878, Tchaikovsky composed his fourth symphony, another opera, Evgenii Onegin, as well as his Violin Concerto

1879, he composed another opera, The Maid of Orleans, his Second Piano Concerto, and the Italian Capriccio

1880, he composed Serenade for String Orchestra and the overture, 1812

1882, he composed a musical memorial dedicated to Nikolai Rubinstein, Piano Trio

1883 he composed another opera, Mazepa

1885, he revised Vakula the Smith (later renamed Cherevichki), and composed a new opera, The Enchantress, and a new symphonic work, Manfred

1887, Cherevichki was performed, it was his first time conducting his own work

1887, he ventured on first European concert tour as a conductor

He performed in Leipzig, Berlin, Prague, Hamburg, Paris and London

Met several well-known composers and famous musicians

He was famous in Russia, in Europe and America as well

1888, he composed his Fifth Symphony and a ballet, The Sleeping Beauty

1890, he composed another opera, The Queen of Spades, as well as the sextet, Souvenir de Florence.

1991, he composed a ballet, The Nutcracker, and a one-act opera, Iolanta

1991, he orchestrated a symphonic ballad, The Voevoda

In between his musical work, he had embarked on other concert tours across Russia, Europe, and America

1892, returned from tour and began Symphony in E♭ major later becoming a part of Third Piano Concerto after his death

1893, he composed Symphony No. 6 in B minor as well as the Eighteen Pieces (Op. 72) for piano

1893, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Cambridge University

Next projects were "Pathetique Symphony", his Third Piano Concerto, and possibly a new opera.

October 1893, he was diagnosed with cholera in its severe stage and he died on November 6, 1893 in St. Petersburg

Piano Concerto No. 1 was begun in November of 1874 January of 1875, Nikolai Rubinstein gave him a harsh evaluation Tchaikovsky felt insulted and published it as it was It was completed in February 1875 and dedicated to Hans von Bülow It was first heard in Boston on October 25, 1875 It was also performed in Saint Petersburg on November 13, 1875 by pianist,

Gustav Kross, and conductor, Eduard Nápravník, as well as on December 3, 1875 in Moscow by Sergei Taneev and conductor, Nikolai Rubinstein

Tchaikovsky was fond of his First Piano Concerto and included it in his concert tours through Europe and North America in the 1880s and 1890s

The main theme of the first movement is inspired from a Ukrainian folk song The second movement is inspired by a French song from the early 1870’s The third movement is inspired by the Ukrainian song "Go on, go on Ivan" It was first published by Petr Jurgenson in two parts, orchestral parts in 1875

piano parts in 1876 The full score was published in August 1879 as a second edition with revisions A third edition of the full score was revised and published in 1890

Piotr il'ich tchaikovsky. (2001, May 13). Retrieved from http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~boris/maha/music/tchaikovsky.html

Poznansky, A. (n.d.). Tchaikovsky: A life. Retrieved from http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/

Pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.8notes.com/biographies/tchaikovsky.asp