Tchaikovsky
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Nocturne

(Ноктюрн)

Arrangement for cello with small orchestra (?1888).

Catalogue References	TH 64 ; ČW 349
Date	(?) February 1888 (arranged from No. 4 of the Six Pieces for piano, Op. 19)
Key	D minor
Instrumentation	Cello solo + 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (B♭), 2 Bassoons + 2 Horns (F) + Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
Notable Performances	Paris, Colonne Orchestra, 16/28 February 1888, Anatoly Brandukov (cello), conducted by Tchaikovsky (private concert) Paris, 16th Châtelet concert, 21 February/4 March 1888, Anatoly Brandukov (cello), conducted by Tchaikovsky (first public performance) Paris, 17th Châtelet concert, 28 February/11 March 1888, Anatoly Brandukov (cello), conducted by Tchaikovsky Moscow, Aleksandr Ziloti’s concert, 6/18 November 1891, Anatoly Brandukov (cello), conducted by Tchaikovsky
Autograph Location	Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky House-Museum Archive (a1, No. 70)
First Publication	Moscow: Muzgiz, 1956
Average Duration	6 minutes
External Links	IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library (downloadable score)

History

Tchaikovsky orchestrated the Nocturne—No. 4 from the Six Pieces (Op. 19) for piano—for a performance by Anatoly Brandukov in February 1888. It appears that the orchestration was itself based on an arrangement of the piece for solo cello with piano made by Wilhelm Fitzenhagen (Moscow: P. Jurgenson, 1879).

The orchestral version was transposed to the key of D minor; the piano piece is set in C♯ minor.

From: The Tchaikovsky Handbook, vol. 1 (2002), p. 213
Copyright © 2002 Alexander Poznansky and Brett Langston