Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
by Evan K
Tchaikovsky's Early Life
Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky was born on May 7th, 1840 in Votkinsk, Russia. The Tchaikovsky family was not very noteworthy; they lived in a small mountain town in the Urals. He was born into a wealthy family, he had 6 other siblings. His father; Ilya Petrovich was a magistrate and on a large estate with serfs. Pyotr's mother, Alexandra only wanted to return to St. Petersburg. Pytor had a strong love for Russia, he was once seen kissing Russia in an atlas and spitting on the neighboring countries by his nanny.
Where Tchaikovsky Lived
The picture above is of Tchaikovsky's house in Votkinsk, Russia. Tchaikovsky was born in this house on May 7th 1840. Tchaikovsky was a part of the romantic period of music. He wrote many works for ballets such as "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker". In November of 1848 Tchaikovsky's family moved to St. Petersburg.
Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Full with Cannons)
Tchaikovsky's Music
Tchaikovsky wrote many pieces, but one of his most famous works of music is "1812 Overture". He wrote it in 1880 to celebrate Russia's defeat of Napoleon. He thought the piece was "too noisy" and he wrote the song without the church bells and cannons.
Other Music
- The Nutcracker Suite
- Piano Concerto No.1
- Swan Lake
- Romeo And Juliet
Tchaikovsky's Legacy
In his 53 year life Tchaikovsky lived through a time of intense musical activity across Europe. He met many different composers, he would often write in his journal about other composers. Pyotr wrote many classics such as "Swan Lake" and "Romeo and Juliet".
Citations
Avrilfan2213. “Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Full with Cannons).” YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbxgYlcNxE8>.
Kuznetsov, Nikolai. “Portrait of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky by Nikolai Kuznetsov.” Wikipedia. N.p., 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_Ilyich_Tchaikovsky>.
Lebrecht Music & Arts / Universal Images Group. “TCHAIKOVSKY - House at Votkinsk where he was born.” Britanncia Image Quest. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <http://quest.eb.com/search/House-of-Tchaikovsky/1/113_916439/TCHAIKOVSKY---House-at-Votkinsk-where-he-was-born.>.