I heared one of his symphony from my childhood and it was magnificent...very active includes sax playing
2007-11-05 16:59:05 · 9 answers · asked by Eshta 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Classical
He wrote six, but the last three are masterpieces. There are no sax parts in any of his symphonies. The instrument was really not used in classical music much before Ravel, although Bizet may have used it for the Arlesienne Suite.
The last three symphonies are available as a set from Von Karajan and the Berlin Phil, or if you have the money from Leningrad under Mravinsky.
Edit: The sax was actually around in Tchaikovsky's time, being invented by Adolphe Sax in about 1840. But no, there are no sax parts in Tchaikovsky's work.
2007-11-05 17:13:00 · answer #1 · answered by Malcolm D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wonder why, when a person asks a question about Tchaikovsky symphonies, three people talk about his ballets? Because they don't actually know anything and are after cheap points?
There are actually 7 Tchaikovsky symphonies - the six numbered ones and the magnificent 'Manfred Symphony', which is actually his largest work in the genre - both in terms of scale (nearly an hour) and size of orchestra (including an organ at the end). Tchaikovsky did in fact start a 7th numbered symphony but became unhappy with it after the first movement and re-fashioned it into what is now known as the 3rd Piano Concerto shortly before his death. There is, however, a reconstruction of Tchiakovsky's sketches for the 7th Symphony by Bogatyrev, which was once available on Columbia/Sony Classical.
The numbered symphonies 4, 5 and 6 (Pathétique) are the most often played but the earlier ones are worth hearing too - especially the 5-movement 'Polish' Symphony (No 3), which is a particular favourite of mine. The Manfred Symphony was written between Nos 4 and 5 and he probably didn't number it because of its overtly programmatic nature (based on the poem 'Manfred' by Lord Byron).
If you want the complete symphonies try the classic 1960s set by Yevgeni Svetlanov or the more recent set by Yuri Temirkanov. For the last three numbered symphonies alone, try the Leningrad Philharmonic with Yevgeni Mravinsky on Deutsche Grammophon.
Malcolm correctly states that Tchaikovsky never used the saxophone (still a young instrument when he was writing) but he did use the celeste (an even younger instrument), both in his ballet 'The Nutcracker' and the late symphonic poem 'Voyevoda'.
2007-11-05 23:29:47 · answer #2 · answered by del_icious_manager 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Swan Lake Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker are NOT symphonies, neither is the 1812 Overture. His best works in that oeuvre are the 4th, 5th and 6th (The Pathetique). The 4th is my favourite. Or the 5th.
2007-11-05 21:00:15 · answer #3 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first three and the fifth, I think. I dislike the fourth (though I cannot tell you why) and the sixth is just too much. Was the sax invented in his time?
2007-11-05 19:43:30 · answer #4 · answered by galyamike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe I'm biased as a dancer, but I love his Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake Suites. I like the 1812 Overture, but I wouldn't say it was his best.
2007-11-05 17:03:19 · answer #5 · answered by axo_09 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Swan Lake
2007-11-05 17:03:10 · answer #6 · answered by go_romo_go 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Nutcracker suite is his most famous and is the one the haunts me the most growing up with it.
But I have to confess I'm more of a Stravinsky fan. The Firebird suite gets me every time.
2007-11-05 17:12:09 · answer #7 · answered by windowtreatmentofdeath 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Swan Lake, which I like the best.
2007-11-06 01:09:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
1812 overture
2007-11-05 23:06:01 · answer #9 · answered by Aurelia 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋