The nationalistic flag-waving propensity was nowhere stronger than in Russia. Tchaikovsky thought that a majority of those composers, such as the "The Mighty Five," was too arrogant and far too superior to any other contemporary composer. Tchaikovsky remained humble, however his music gave him something to be arrogant about.
Peter Tchaikovsky was born in 1840. He was born in Votkinsk, a remote village at the foot of the Ural Mountains. Although as a youth he was not completely encompassed in music, he soon moved to St. Petersburg where he enrolled at the Conservatory. His musical talents were slow to develop, but once they emerged, around the age of 21, he composed several pieces. He won a silver medal at the Conservatory with a cantata on Schiller's "Ode to Joy."
As Tchaikovsky's fame and fortune increased, so did his tormenting. Many people were talking about his possible homosexuality. To upturn this rumor, he married a young girl from the conservatory. The union was a complete disaster. Tchaikovsky left her after nine days, and tried to commit suicide by walking into the Moskva River. Fortunately, he did not die and all he got was a pathetic cold.
The next woman he "married" was Nadezhda von Meck. She provided for him financially under one term. The term was that she would never see him. Tchaikovsky agreed to the term, and he dedicated a majority of the rest of his compositions in her name. His compositions were getting better by the day, and he was an international phenomenon. He was invited to conduct throughout the world. Although at first, his music, such as Violin Concerto #1, was said to be somewhat distasteful. Nevertheless, after a short time, his music was accepted around the world. He never had any complaints about the success of his music. He died in 1893.
His notable pieces include his last three symphonies, Symphony no. 4, Symphony no. 5, and Symphony no. 6. His three famous ballets are The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. His lush sonorities in his Serenade for Strings are a pleasing display of warm melody. His First Violin Concerto and his First Piano Concerto are part of the standard repertoire for professional players. For cellists, he composed the ever-famous Variations on a Rococo Theme. His notable chamber piece is his String Quartet in D, op.11, with its famous movement, Andante Cantabile.
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