The music genius, Tchaikovsky (change)

Music, a wonderful thing human have discovered. At first, music was only use in

catholic ceremonies or rituals (everything that involves religion), but with the pass of the

time, it becomes one of the most important and revolutionary entrainments in the whole

world, as well as part of the culture of the majorities countries where the “notes arrives”. It

is not a surprise that this type of art gain the heart of each one who listened it, but why is

the reason we like it? How changes by the time? How can music let us feel different

emotions? To answer all of these questions we are going to talk about a transcendental

period not only for music but also for the art and literacy, the Romanticism. Itself, the

period had many artist but I will be focus just in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and two of his

most famous compositions: “Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20” and “Dance of the Sugar-Plum

Fairy (O Quebra-Nozes)”. I will compare and contrast both of the pieces and find out the

magic within the structure of the libretto, because I believe Tchaikovsky had a powerful

impact in the music and dance into his environment.

To go ahead, I would like to contextualize talking about Romanticism. It “born” in

1770 at Europe, but it was not until 18th century that started to make presence between other

bases or movements. In the literature was center in the individualism, freedom, nature and

emotion. Similarly, with music, which was guide by love, ambiguity and subjectivity in

each written note instead of going with the classical style. This is where Tchaikovsky

appears in the history. He born in Votkinski, Russia in 1840, grew up being gifted (ability

in the piano), and present a passion since little with music (which was supported by his
parents). After school, was trained in a conservatory and it was here where he fusion the

traditional European music with his own style to ends up with, sometimes, many important

people (music “compositors”) disapprove who listened their innovative, but strange (for

those times) compositions. Travels to many countries on Europe that on my point of view,

gives him a more expanded view of art in each place he went. In 1875 to 1876, he created

the songs for the “Swan Lake” and in 1892; he created the Nutcracker themes, just making

him success with other pieces written this period. He died in “officially” for cholera in

November 6 in the 1893, but some people speculate about other reasons of his death.

Notably, the contributions of Tchaikovsky had an impact on music, but now, let see

the differences between the songs mentioned previously. First, both of them are ballets,

which means that the Swan Lake and the Nutcracker follow the similar form and some

characteristics for being the same dance such as a strong rhythm. Above all, rhythm is the

base of dance and even more in ballet where all the moves follows strictly the beat of the

piece and has to be precisely and in time. In second place, some instruments distinctive are

use on these classic compositions, for example; the celesta or the oboe, that gives

mysterious and mystic feeling in the acts where are played. Finally, the objective with the

theme. In this case, each part help to evoke these science fiction stories as well as get the

emotions dancers tried to convey through all their steps.

Now that we are clear about some similar points Tchaikovsky’s ballets have in

common we jump right in the individual analysis of each work. To begin, I will talk about
“Swan Lake Suite Op. 20,” This fairy tale, in resume, is about a prince who needed to be

engaged before his coronation (for became king). He was not interested on that until he

meet the princess Odette who was enchanted (with other girls) by an evil magician, so they

can only return humans at the midnight. In some point of the plot, the magician makes his

daughter looks like Odette so the prince can get confuse but in the end, the two lovers stay

together in other world after drowning in the lake.

The piece is in B minor and had a very complex diagramming form. It was a

surprised the existence of this ballet for everyone in those times. Pyotr previous

compositions were only symphonies, but after his travels around many countries and get

inspiration by some artist like Léo Delibes and Adolphe Adam he was excited to create

what it would be this song. We start listening a set of violins (very subtle in the

background) in unison and then an arpeggio made by a harp (that will be and preparing the

entrance of the main protagonist, the oboe). This wind instrument play the famous melody

when the prince meets Odette and gives the perfect magic and intriguing tone for the scene.

The theme repeats one more time and next, start to ascend with each phrase it goes on.

After another repetition it is when all the instruments of the orchestra ensembles together to

Let us get into the structure behind the songs mentioned before
Include the form of the piece, dynamics, style, historical connections to other pieces, meter and/or rhythm

content, instruments used, etc.