Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
Marche slave (Slavonic March), Op. 31, TH 45 (with Score)
Composed: 1876
Conductor: Mikhail Pletnev
Orchestra: Russian National Orchestra
0:00 Moderato in modo di marcia funebre (B-flat minor)
3:28 L'istesso tempo (A-flat major)
7:13 Più mosso. Allegro (B-flat major)
8:02 Andante molto maestoso (B-flat major)
8:20 Allegro risoluto (B-flat major)
The Marche slave in B-flat minor, Op. 31, is an orchestral tone poem by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky published in 1876. It was written to celebrate Russia's intervention in the Serbian-Ottoman War.
In June 1876, Serbia and the Ottoman Empire were engaged in the Serbian-Ottoman War. Russia openly supported Serbia. The Russian Musical Society commissioned an orchestral piece from Tchaikovsky for a concert in aid of the Red Cross Society, and ultimately for the benefit of wounded Serbian veterans. Many Russians sympathized with their fellow Slavs and Orthodox Christians and sent volunteer soldiers and aid to assist Serbia.
Tchaikovsky referred to the piece as his "Serbo-Russian March" while writing it. It was premiered in Moscow on November 17 [O.S. November 5] 1876, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein.
The march is highly programmatic in its form and organization. The first section describes the oppression of the Serbs by the Turks. It uses two Serbian folk songs, "Sunce jarko, ne sijaš jednako" (Bright sun, you do not shine equally), by Isidor Ćirić and "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike" (Gladly does the Serb become a soldier), by Josip Runjanin - giving way to the second section in the relative major key, which describes the Russians rallying to help the Serbs. This is based on a simple melody with the character of a rustic dance which is passed around the orchestra until finally it gives way to a solemn statement of the Russian national anthem "God Save the Tsar". The third section of the piece is a repeat of Tchaikovsky's furious orchestral climax, reiterating the Serbian cry for help. The final section describes the Russian volunteers marching to assist the Serbs. It uses a Russian tune, this time in the tonic major key and includes another blazing rendition of "God Save the Tsar" prophesying the triumph of the Slavonic people over Ottomans. The overture finishes with a virtuoso coda for the full orchestra.
The piece is frequently paired in performance with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," which also quotes "God Save the Tsar."
9 июл 2024
