Tchaikovsky
www.tchaikovsky-research.net
Blessed is He Who Smiles
Бпажен, кто улыбается
For unaccompanied men's voices (1887).
| Catalogue References | TH 83 ; ČW 71 |
|---|---|
| Date | December 1887 |
| Text | "K.R." [i.e. Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia (1858–1916), from his poem of the same name] |
| Language | Russian |
| Key | F major |
| Tempo/Section Listing | Allegro moderato (F major, 63 bars) |
| Instrumentation | Chorus (TTBB) |
| First Performance | Moscow University, 8/20 March 1892, conducted by Viktor Mal’m |
| Autograph Location | Moscow: Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture (ф. 88, No. 126) |
| First Publication | Moscow: P. Jurgenson, 1889 |
| Average Duration | 3 minutes |
| Dedication | To the Student Choir of Moscow University. |
| External Links |
Internet Music Score Library Project
 (downloadable score)The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
(text and translations) |
History
Written on 7/19 December 1887 at Maidanovo, at the request of Karl Albrecht (according to the date on the manuscript). The chorus was composed at around the same time as the Six Romances (Op. 63), to words by Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich. In a letter of 8/20 December to Karl Albrecht, sent with the manuscript, Tchaikovsky reported: "I am sending you the one chorus that I have written, and cannot do any more for the present" [1].
The chorus is dedicated to the student choir of Moscow University, and was performed by them on 8/20 March 1892, conducted by Viktor Mal’m, in the hall of the Nobles’ Club.
Petr Jurgenson published the choral score and parts in 1889 [2].
From:
Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), p. 356
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston
Notes:
- Letter 3431 to Karl Albrecht, 7/19 December 1887 [back]
- Passed by the censor on 9/21 September 1889 [back]