{ program notes death-haunted first and last movements and its extraordinary highs and lows , epitomizes its creator . And Tchaikovsky seemed to know this as he completed it in August 1893 . “ I definitely think it is by far the best and in particular … the most sincere of all my pieces . I love it as I have never loved any other of my musical children ,” he wrote to his nephew and the piece ’ s dedicatee , Vladimir “ Bob ” Davydov .
With its dying finale — unprecedented for a symphony at this time , though it would be much copied afterward — the Sixth Symphony mostly bewildered the St . Petersburg audience at its premiere under the composer ’ s baton on October 28 , 1893 . But eight days later , Tchaikovsky suddenly died of cholera ( though rumors of suicide persist to this day ), and this eerie coincidence with a work that seemed to foretell his own death vaulted the “ Pathétique ” into a fame it has never lost .
However , as the composer began this work in February 1893 he was probably thinking of death — always a morbid obsession with him — only as a fearful abstraction . The last year of his life was a good one . He was enjoying international fame — earning an honorary doctorate from Cambridge University . And his Sixth Symphony came to Tchaikovsky , who usually struggled with his symphonies , in an uncharacteristic flood of inspiration . He sketched the first movement in just four days .
Tchaikovsky admitted there was a nonmusical program inspiring this work , but he would never reveal its identity . “ Let them try and guess it ! … The theme of it is full of subjective feeling , so much so that as I was mentally composing it … I frequently shed tears .” As the work was about to be published , Tchaikovsky told his brother Modest it needed a subtitle . Modest suggested “ Tragic ,” but his brother shook his head . Then Modest came up with the French word “ Pathétique .” It is a misleading title to English-speakers because the English
“ pathetic ” suggests “ inadequate , feeble .” However , the corresponding French and Russian words relate more closely to its Greek original pathos , carrying the more appropriate meaning of “ suffering .”
First movement : Out of the sepulchral tones of low strings emerges a lone bassoon , like the voice of death , which tries languidly to launch the first theme , but cannot . As the tempo increases to Allegro , the violas deliver the full theme in the home key of B minor ; it is aggressive yet nervous and rich in developmental possibilities . More memorable is the second theme , introduced by muted violins and cellos ; it is one of Tchaikovsky ’ s most famous melodies , full of Romantic yearning . Suddenly , the dramatic development bursts on us fortissimo . The frenzy subsides briefly for a brass chorale , intoning the Russian Orthodox funeral chant “ With the Saints ,” and closes with a passionately tragic passage for the brass .
Tchaikovsky adored the ballet ; it was his ideal escape from dark thoughts . And that ’ s
HAVE A NIGHT OUT . IT ’ S ON US .
All concerts at Peabody are now FREE , from classical to contemporary to jazz .
Highlights this year include :
• Peabody Symphony Orchestra with conductor MARIN ALSOP
Saturday , February 4 at 8:00 pm
• Peabody Concert Orchestra with guest conductor NICHOLAS HERSH
Friday , February 10 at 8:00 pm
• Peabody Symphony Orchestra with students of the graduate conducting program
Tuesday , February 28 at 8:00 pm
Find your favorites at peabody . jhu . edu , or by calling 667-208-6620 .
January – February 2017 | Overture 15