program notes

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840–1893)

Tchaikovsky was a towering figure in Russian classical music and left an indelible mark on the world of composition. Born in 1840, he was raised on music, starting piano at age five and quickly excelling at music comprehension and performance. Eventually he attended Saint Petersburg Conservatory. This education was particularly Western-oriented and is what eventually set Tchaikovsky’s compositional style apart from The Mighty Five—a group of Russian composers that led the contemporary nationalist movement in music. Tchiakovsky’s ability to fuse Russian folk influences with European classical traditions produced timeless masterpieces that have endured for generations. His personal struggles, including his complex relationship with his own sexuality, add layers of depth to his music, making it a rich tapestry of human emotion.

March Slav, a tone poem composed in 1876, is a vibrant and patriotic piece. It was originally composed to benefit the care of wounded Serbian veterans during the Serbian-Ottoman war, and is a powerful manifestation of the composer's fervent nationalistic spirit. The piece opens with a solemn, hymn-like theme that gradually builds in intensity, leading to a thrilling and triumphant climax.