P.I. Tchaikovsky Overture "1812"
The name of the outstanding Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is well known not only in our own country, but also far beyond its borders. The works of the great maestro will certainly enter the repertoire of all symphony orchestras, and operas and ballets are regularly put on the stages of the best musical theaters. However, among the rich creative Peter Ilyich there is one work that, in the world ranking of the most popular orchestral works, confidently takes the first place. We are talking about the brilliant creation of the composer's Solemn Overture "1812". This is not quite the usual composition by Tchaikovsky, since, according to the original idea of the composer, it should be performed by a large symphony orchestra with an increased group of percussion instruments, bells and even real cannons.
History of creation
In the last quarter of the XIX century, when musical art was at the stage of dynamic development, in Russia, by analogy with the West, it became fashionable to order composers to hold solemn pieces for various public holidays and anniversaries.
In May 1880, Pyotr Ilyich, who decided to take some time off from composing work and temporarily settled in Kamenka, the estate of his sister Alexandra Ilyinichna Davydova, received a letter from Pyotr Ivanovich Yurgenson. In his message, the owner of a music publishing company notified the composer that Nikolai Grigorievich Rubinstein, who was appointed to head the music department of the All-Russian Exhibition in the next 1881, expressed a desire to order Pyotr Ilyich a holiday work. Two options were offered: the first is an overture, the first performance of which should take place either at the opening of the exhibition or at a celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of Alexander II. The second option is a cantata for the Day of Illumination, built in Moscow of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
In a response letter to the publisher Chaikovsky frankly admitted that he did not like the proposal at all. Firstly, the maestro did not like to compose music for the order, and secondly, he treated the emperor who ruled at that time with great antipathy, and the architecture of the newly built Temple of the composer did not inspire. Only the personal written appeal of Rubinstein himself, whose request to Pyotr Ilyich did not have enough spirit, helped to resolve this situation.
Carefully choosing a theme for his work, Peter Ilyich focused on the upcoming significant date: the 70th anniversary of the victory of Russia in the war with Napoleon. In addition, an important role in choosing the subject was played by the fact that the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was also built in memory of the heroes of the events of 1812.
Work on the work of the composer was pretty fast. Perhaps he was inspired by the fact that the participants in the war with Napoleon: the noblemen Davydov and Rayevsky, who were closely related to each other, were inhabitants of the Kamenka estate, where Tchaikovsky worked on his composition. In the meantime, it may be because it took very little time for Peter Ilyich to write the overture, he was overwhelmed by strong doubts about the artistic merits of his last creation. In the messages to his friends, he complained that the music is very loud and noisy.
The work was completed on November 7, 1880, as evidenced by the inscription of the composer at the end of the score. The overture was published in print only in 1882, and on August 8 of the same year, it was premiered as part of the All-Russian Industrial Art Exhibition. The concert took place on the square in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which by that time had not yet been completed. The listeners, who were tens of thousands of ordinary Muscovites, were struck by the enlarged composition of the orchestra, the cannons standing on the sides and to the rhythm of the music performing triumphal volleys, as well as a grand triumphant bell chime. The success surpassed all expectations and in less than a year, on May 26, 1883, the overture was performed at the same place while lighting the temple.
Interesting Facts
- Overture "1812" was appreciated by the government of the Russian Empire. For this work PI Tchaikovsky was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, I degree.
- When writing the overture, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was so inspired by the patriotic mood, which he had to reflect in this work, that he introduced the part for real cannons into the score. For this reason, in the orchestration originally written by the composer, the overture is performed very rarely, and artillery volleys are replaced by the sounds of a bass drum or a special cannone instrument that imitates the sounds of a fired cannon.
- At first, Tchaikovsky treated his newly created work - the overture "1812" was very hostile and he wrote about this in his messages to his friends many times. However, after the triumphal premiere, which was conducted by Hippolyte Karlovich Altani, the composer's opinion about his brainchild began to change gradually. Soon the success of the overture was performed in Smolensk, Kharkov, Tiflis, Pavlovsk, Odessa, and then it was heard by residents of European cities such as Prague, Berlin, Brussels. Seeing the cordial welcome of the listeners, Peter Ilyich began to include this work in the program of his author's concerts, and soon began to perform it at all for an encore.
- In the Soviet Union, the solemn overture of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was banned for some time. The reason for this was the hymn of Tsarist Russia, "God Save the Tsar." Only in the years of the Great Patriotic War to maintain the patriotic attitude of the Soviet people, the performance was resumed again. However, now the overture sounded with the changes that the composer Vissarion Shebalin made to it: he melodiously replaced the melody of the hymn glorifying the king with the motif of the chorus "Glorify" from the opera "Ivan Susanin" M.I. Glinka. The sounds of this work morally supported the residents of besieged Leningrad, and also accompanied the broadcast of front-line reports, which every citizen of our country was looking forward to.
- It is necessary to note the fact that Tchaikovsky in the overture "1812" used the melodies of those anthems of Russia and France, which were at the time of writing the work, and also to the listeners, they were better known. The fact is that during the war of 1812, that is, during the reign of Napoleon, the anthem of France was the "Marching Song". "Marseillaise" became the state symbol of this country only in 1871. In addition, after the February events of 1917 in Russia, the Marseillaise, like the Internationale, was perceived as a revolutionary hymn. Regarding the Russian hymn "God Save the Tsar!": It appeared only in 1833, and until that time Russia was glorified with a song to the words of Gavriil Derzhavin "Thunder of victory, be heard!"
- For the first time, the recording of Tchaikovsky's overture "1812" with a real artillery cannonade was made by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (USA) in the fifties of the last century. Because of the cannon shots and the ringing of the bells when playing the overture, the sound frequencies turned out to be so low that many players could not stand in these places: it came to pickup needle breakage. For this reason, the Solemn Overture "1812" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was used to test the quality of the speakers in the low-frequency bands.
- The solemn overture "1812" is often used both in cinema and in animated films. For example, this music can be heard in the fantastic television series "On the Edge of the Universe", in the action movie "V for Vendetta", in the drama "Society of Dead Poets" and in the famous animated series "The Simpsons".
- In the United States of America since 1974 the overture "1812" is part of the ceremony of the national holiday "Independence Day". It's funny, but the Americans have traditionally admired the sounds of the former Russian hymn "God Save the Tsar!" For decades at the colorful fireworks in honor of the significant event of their country. Perhaps, in addition to life-affirming music, they are also attracted by the name of the work, because in the history of the United States, 1812 is also of great importance. During this period, the States fought with England for independence, and as a result of this confrontation gained sovereignty.
- In France, they also love the overture "1812". Her solemn sound constantly decorates national holidays in this country. It seems that the French do not care at all what caused the creation of this work.
Content
Starting the composition of the overture, Peter Ilyich understood that this should be an impressive work, which would vividly reflect the greatness of the Russian people, his heroism, manifested in the struggle against the French invaders. Therefore, the maestro in the overture very ingeniously approached the construction of dramatic art, and in addition added to the music such sound effects as bells and firing salvos from real cannons.
Overture (Es-dur tonality), written in form of sonata allegro, opens an expanded introduction, which includes three diverse themes. The music begins with a dark choir, based on church prayer for the preservation of the fatherland: "Save, O Lord, your people." The second topic of the intro is an agitated tune played by an oboe, but then as a relay from one instrument to another. Intensively developing, he figuratively paints a picture of growing anxiety. The third theme is the dramatic sounds of fanfare against the background of the melodic theme of the violin group.
The main theme of the exposition, characterized by impetuous heavy traffic, depicts a panorama of a mortal combat. The constant increase of tension leads to the emergence of a new theme. This is the famous French revolutionary song "Marseillaise", but here it is presented in a distorted sound that draws the evil image of an enemy invader.
The portrait of Russia and its heroic defenders Tchaikovsky brightly portrayed in a secondary party, using for this purpose two diverse motives. The first is melodious, with a beautiful melody in the folk style. Peter Ilyich entrusted his performance for expressiveness to the violin group. Another, but already truly folk motif, which is very popular in Russia: "Ay, Danube, my Danube" is presented by the composer in the octave sound of the flute and the English horn. All previously heard themes get a dynamic development in a small-sized development, and then in the subsequent reprise.
The turning point in the drama of the work comes in a solemn code. The frantic sound of "Marseillaise" framed by the fast-moving passages of violins and which characterizes the temporary success of the French, is replaced by the majestic sound of the theme of prayer that sounds at the very beginning of the work. Here it is presented as a symbol of the victory of the Russian army. Then triumphantly - the fanfare theme of the entry comes solemnly on fortissimo when the bells enter. The composition is completed by the greatness of the state anthem of the Russian monarch: "God Save the Tsar."
The overture of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky "1812" is a work whose music vividly reflects the idea of state power, as well as the highest rise of patriotism, which is highly relevant at the present time. A person likes to feel like a winner and enjoy the sounds of victory, and the outstanding work of the great composer gives him this opportunity.
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