"Children's album" Tchaikovsky: content, history of creation

The abilities of the young composer appeared at an early age. From the age of 5 Tchaikovsky freely played the piano. And at eight he began to record his first musical impressions.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky left the world glory of the composer and conductor. His life is completely devoted to music making. More than 80 works are written by the composer. These are operas and ballets, symphonies and concerts for pianoforte, suites and string quartets.

Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album" has a bright musical language. Content Cycle reminds one day of a child, with his games and sorrows. The folklore of the material, the amazing melody, made this cycle popular even today.

Tchaikovsky: "Children's album". History of creation

The composer's idea of writing a children's cycle can be attributed to February 1878. Tchaikovsky was on a foreign trip. In one of his letters to friends, he reports on the desire to create a small collection of light plays for children's performance. By analogy with the "Album for Youth" Schumann.

The Opus was completely finished in May 1878. Musical numbers are linked together in small microcycles. The depth of the subtext, the difficult life-period concealed under the melodic intonations of Tchaikovsky. "Children's album", the history of creation Who is associated with the family of the composer's sister, deserves to be called a masterpiece ...

The Davidov family

Alexander Ilyinichna, her husband and children always rejoiced at the arrival of Tchaikovsky in their house. The village of Kamenka near Kiev is the patrimonial estate of the noble family of Davydovs. Sister Tchaikovsky, in the marriage of Davidov, gladly accepted his brother in this big, cozy house.

Pyotr Ilyich devoted much time to the children of his sister. He played for a long time and walked with them. He was able to tell interesting stories about the countries he visited. With attention he listened to the stories of nephews about the day spent or various events from their life.

Seven children Alexandra Ilinichny filled the estate with provocative laughter, fun games. Impressed by this friendly family, "Children's Album" was written. It is dedicated to the author of his nephew, Volodya Davydov.

"Children's album" by Tchaikovsky: content

The program content of the cycle is arranged by the composer in a certain sequence. Art historians logically divide the opus into the morning, day and evening of the children's day.

Games, songs, dances - are simple and simple Tchaikovsky's plays. "Children's album" By right is a source of inspiration for children's creativity. Poems, paintings, based on miniatures of the opus, develop figurative thinking of children. Allow to integrate various types of art, form a holistic perception of the surrounding world.

For some unknown reason, the order of the miniatures was changed. There are differences in the handwritten version of the author and hard copy. Most likely, the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Did not attach importance to small permutations. Therefore, the "Children's Album" is printed with changes to the present day.

Difficult period of life

In a difficult period in life, Tchaikovsky created the Children's Album. It all started with his marriage to Antonina Milyukova. She was a conservatory student and a great admirer of the composer.

Their family life did not work out. It's hard to say why. On this account, there are different versions. It is a well-known fact that Tchaikovsky wanted to commit suicide in connection with this unsuccessful marriage. His reluctance to live with this woman forced him to break off relations.

Tchaikovsky goes abroad for six months. That's where he gets the idea of writing an album for children. In his work and work the composer saw a way out of the spiritual crisis.

Two versions of the "Children's Album"

There are two versions of the interpretation of the "Children's Album". Art historians believe that the tragedy of some miniatures is directly related to the author's complex marital relations.

First version. The usual day of the child is with his games, dancing, reading books and dreaming.

The second version. It symbolizes human life. Awakening of feelings and personality, reflections on religion and God. Youthful maximalism and the joy of youth are replaced by the first loss, grief. Then there are years of travels to different countries in the desire to restore emotional balance. Return home, reflect on the meaning of life and the equality of death. And in conclusion - repentance and summing up, reconciliation with yourself.

The numbers of the "Children's Album"

1. "Morning Prayer."
2. "Winter morning".
3. "Playing the horses."
4. "Mama".
5. "March of Wooden Soldiers".
6. "Illness of the doll."
7. "Funeral dolls."
8. "Waltz".
9. "The New Doll".
10. "Mazurka".
11. "Russian song".
12. "The guy plays the harmonica".
13. "Kamarinskaya".
14. "Polka".
15. The Italian Song.
16. "An ancient French song."
17. "The German Song".
18. "Neapolitan song."
19. "The Nurse's Tale."
20. "Baba Yaga."
21. "A sweet dream."
22. "Song of the Lark".
23. "The Charmer Sings".
24. "In the church".

Morning cycle

The morning cycle consists of the plays "Morning Prayer", "Winter Morning", "Playing the Horse", "Mama". Tchaikovsky "Children's Album" Wrote under the impression of his numerous nephews. Their daily routine, games and fun he passed in his composition.

"Morning Prayer . " From her, the day of adults and children began and ended. In the musical piece, the composer used the melody of a real church prayer. Purity and childish immediacy imbued intonational conversation between the child and God.

"Winter morning" . Alarmed music of a harsh, unfriendly winter sounds in the play. A foggy, cold morning gives way to mournful intonations. As if the child looked out of the window and saw small, chubby birds.

"Playing the horses . " The mischievous melody of the play conveys the fun of the awakened child, his desire to play and run. The composer of the hooves of a toy horse accurately depicted the composer. Fabulous obstacles, changing scenery during the game were reflected in the rich harmony of the play.

"Mom" . An affectionate, melodious miniature depicts the sincere feelings of the child and mother. Soulful experiences are reflected in a flexible intonation. Melodious voice communicates with my mother music. "Children's Album" by Tchaikovsky Are imbued with rich nuances of harmonization and childhood experiences.

Day cycle

The day cycle consists of games and entertainment, dances and songs. Energetic, full of fun plays are replaced by the first children's losses and grief. "Children's album" by Tchaikovsky, the content of his day cycle in particular, has a clear division into the games of girls and boys, songs from different countries and dances.

"March of Wooden Soldiers" . The clarity, lightness, elasticity of the boy's play is reflected in the play. The toy procession of soldiers or the whole army draws the composer with a strict rhythmic drawing.

"Illness of the doll . " The girl's experience of her ill doll was conveyed by amazing musical means. The play lacks the integrity of the melody. She is constantly interrupted by pauses-sighs.

"Funeral dolls . " The first child's grief is always deep and significant. Sincere emotions, tears the composer draws with respect to the tragedy and personality of the child.

The Waltz . Children's experiences are quickly replaced by a cheerful, lively dance. Feeling of a home holiday, universal joy conveys Chaikovsky. "Children's Album" (waltz in particular) is filled with light chords, a melody of melody, which entrains the dance of dance.

"The New Doll" . The mood of miniature is permeated with joy and happiness. A live run, an excited heartbeat conveys the music of the play. Swift melody has absorbed a whole range of feelings - delight, amazement, joy.

Songs and dances

In this subsection of the day cycle, Russian songs and ballroom dances of the time are brought together. They symbolize the dreams of children, their conversations, a walk to the village. Different in sounding dance alternate songs Tchaikovsky. "Children's album" Transfers all restlessness of children's age.

"Mazurka". A fast Polish dance was very popular among Russian composers. Noisy, lively accents, rhythmically imbued with mazurka. "Children's album" Tchaikovsky conceived as a richness of the inner experiences and actions of the child. Therefore, even in a mobile mazurka, an easy transition to sadness and dreaminess is heard.

"Russian Song" . The melody of the play is the processing of the Russian folk song "Head, my head, my head." Laden changes from a major in minor Tchaikovsky marked as a national peculiarity of Russian songs and applied them in their processing.

"The guy plays the harmonica" . This play is a figurative scene from the people's life. The cheerful understatement of harmony creates the impression of an unsuccessful accordionist. Variational repetitions add humor to the play.

"Kamarinskaya" . This is a folk dance song with variations. Tchaikovsky was able to accurately convey the sound of bagpipes in a bass ostinato, the intonation of playing the violin and the chords of the harmonics.

"Polka" . Cheerful Czech dance was used in the Tchaikovsky cycle. Polka from the "Children's Album" is easy, like a ballroom dance of that time. The graceful motive draws the girl in a smart dress and shoes, which dances gracefully polka dots on her socks.

Songs of distant countries

This section is devoted to songs from foreign countries. The color of the countries is easily conveyed by the composer. Tchaikovsky traveled a lot, he visited France and Italy, Turkey and Switzerland.

The Italian Song . In it, Tchaikovsky means musical expressiveness accurately conveys the accompaniment of guitar or mandolin, so beloved in Italy. An energetic, playful song resembles a waltz. But in it there is no smooth dance, but there is a southern animation and impetuosity.

"An ancient French song . " A sad folk tune sounds in the play. Thoughtful dreaminess was inherent in medieval France with her minstrels. The play resembles a minor ballad, restrained and sincere.

"The German Song" . A gallant and cheerful play, the harmony of which resembles the sound of a barrel organ. In the "German Song" there are intonations of iodle. This manner of singing songs is peculiar to the inhabitants of the Alps.

"Neapolitan song . " The sound of folk instruments is heard in this play. Naples is one of the cities of Italy. The energy of the rhythm and the vivacity of the melody convey the fervor of the southerners.

Evening cycle

The evening cycle reminds children's fatigue after a day's fun. It is an evening fairy tale, dreams before going to bed, fear of the dark. Completes the "Children's Album", as it begins, a prayer.

"The Nurse's Tale . " The composer paints a fairy-tale image, all imbued with unexpected pauses and accents. Light, calm melody turn into anxiety and emotion for the heroes of the fairy tale.

"Baba Yaga . " Dreaming and children's fantasy passes "Tchaikovsky's Children's Album." Baba Yaga in the play as if flying in a mortar under the whistle of the wind - so sharp, jerky melody of miniature. Moving forward and gradually removing the fairy-tale character conveys the music.

"A sweet dream . " And again the calm melody of the melody, the beauty and simplicity of the miniature sound. Like a child, looking out of the window at the frosty patterns, composes his unpretentious tale in the evening twilight.

"Song of the Lark" . Animation before going to bed and presenting the next, joyful morning. And with it - and singing a lark with its trills and high register.

"The Charmer Sings" . The long sounds of an ancient instrument, the movement of a melody in a circle, seem to symbolize the infinity of the movement of life. The psychologically complex musical image of the play reminds of non-childish thoughts in the head of the most ordinary child.

"In the church . " Begins and finishes the "Children's Album" prayer. This arch means summing up the day (evening) or the mood for good deeds (morning). At the time of the composer, daily prayers were compulsory. They thanked God for the day spent, asked for mercy and help in difficulties.

Cycle for children

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich became one of the first Russian composers who wrote a series of piano pieces for children's performance. These are technically simple plays, accessible to the child's understanding. The cycle consists entirely of entertaining musical miniatures.

Each piece is an integral work. Losing miniatures from the cycle, the child solves different artistic and performing tasks. Smoothness and melody are replaced by a jerky march, the minority of sadness is a joyful majeure.

Of 24 plays consists "Children's Album" by Tchaikovsky. Content Cycle conveys the simplicity and richness of children's lives. Grief, fun, games, funny dances are arranged by the composer in the storyline.

Collaboration and creativity

In music schools, circles for over a hundred years, Tchaikovsky's plays have been heard. The difference between their interpretations depends on the musical image that one or another performer puts into miniatures.

Bright drama of the album allows you to collaborate with the composer. After listening to the opus children create pictures, poems, plays of their own compositions. The creative process allows you to completely immerse yourself in the emotional-musical interpretation of the "Children's Album".