Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Born 1840; died 1893)
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky was the author of some of the most popular themes in all of classical music. He founded no school, struck out no new paths or compositional methods, and sought few innovations in his works. Yet the power and communicative sweep of his best music elevates it to classic status, even if it lacks the formal boldness and harmonic sophistication heard in the compositions of his contemporaries, Wagner and Bruckner. It was Tchaikovsky's unique melodic charm that could make the music sound familiar on first hearing.
Andante cantabile, for cello and string orchestra in D major (arr. of 2nd mvt. from String Quartet No. 1)
Instrumentation: strings
This is the first time the DPO has performed this piece.
Like most composers, Tchaikovsky often arranged or reworked earlier compositions. This Andante Cantabile is an arrangement for cello and string orchestra of the second movement of his String Quartet No. 1, the most popular of his chamber works.
The character of the music remains essentially the same in this version, though, naturally, the focus shifts more heavily to the solo cello. Of course, anyone familiar with the Quartet will know that much of the writing is in the middle ranges of the violins and viola and would thus adapt reasonably well to the cello. The piece opens with a lovely, if somewhat solemn, theme, whose pacing may seem slower than the Andante marking given in the score. The brighter alternate melody works up some tension in its two brief appearances, but the sweet main theme dominates the piece; upon its final return, it turns more gentle and reflective.
A typical performance of the Andante Cantabile lasts from six to seven minutes.
Biography by Robert Cummings
Composition Description by Robert Cummings
Source: All Media Guide
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