Tchaikovsky
www.tchaikovsky-research.net
The Sleeping Beauty
(Спящая красавица)
Projected suite from the ballet [Op. 66a] (1890)
| Catalogue References | TH 234 (not in ČW) |
|---|---|
| Date | February–October 1890 (unrealized; completed posthumously). |
| Contents |
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| Instrumentation | Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Clarinets (B♭, A), 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns (F), 2 Cornets (B♭, A), 2 Trumpets (B♭, A), 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Triangle, Side Drum, Cymbals, Bass Drum, Glockenspiel, Harp, Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses |
| First Publication | Moscow: P. Jurgenson, 1899 |
| Average Duration | 20 minutes |
| Notes | The above suite of five numbers was published after the composer's death as "Op. 66a" |
| External Links |
IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library
(downloadable score) |
History
"In view of the fact that you are pleased with all the music for The Sleeping Beauty, what about making either one or even two suites from it?", Tchaikovsky suggested to Pyotr Jurgenson on 14/26 February 1890, a few weeks after the premiere of the ballet.
"If yes," he continued, "then I would entrust the selection of numbers to Ziloti. The conductor Engel has for some time expressed a desire to play such a suite in his Aquarium. already some time ago long. I conclude from this that there is a demand" [1]. In response to a question from Pyotr Jurgenson, Tchaikovsky developed the idea in his letter of 28 February/12 March: "Apropos of the suite, I referred to Ziloti on the grounds that in my view he is best placed to indicate exactly what should be included in the suite. It is not necessary to change a single note. What goes for a symphony is the same for a ballet! Of course the Waltz will go in, but there are many other numbers suitable for concert performance. And this should be referred to Ziloti. He is generally sympathetic to my music, and while he is not the author, the latter invariably makes mistakes in the appraisal of his creations. I do think that the second scene of Act II (Sleep) ought to be included, but let Ziloti decide. In any case one suite should be sufficient—not because everything is outstandingly good, but because the whole ballet is of equal merit" [2].
Without having arrived at a resolution, on 4/16 June Tchaikovsky asked Pyotr Jurgenson to postpone the question of the suite. "Regarding the suite from the ballet, I would ask you to wait until July, since I will be then in Petersburg and be able to hear the suite put together by Keller" [3].
However, even in October the matter of the suite had not yet been decided. "As far as the ballet is concerned, by God, I cannot decide. It is usually difficult for me to determine which are the best of my works. Everything seems equally good or is equally foul to me, depending on whether or not I am satisfied with a piece. In this case I will say only that The Sleeping Beauty pleases me in its entirety from the beginning to he end. The simplest resolution of the question would be to engrave the complete full score. But I know that this is asking too much. It only remains to print one number at a time, in order to stimulate the public interest. And so, first of all have the Waltz engraved, then the Panorama, and then in this order: from the prologue: 1) March, 2) Dances of the Fairies, 3) Closing scene; from the first act: 1) Pas d’action, 2) Beauty’s variation, etc, etc. In any case I decline to compile a suite from the ballet. That made by Engel is a pot-pourri, which I do not want; I’d rather select 4, 5 either 6 numbers that can stand alone as independent compositions—which is impossible, or at least I cannot do it. If you want to have a suite, then I must again refer you to Ziloti. In the past year he made lists of numbers for two suites, but I mislaid the paper upon which they were written. I am now firmly against a suite, and in favour of the publication of individual numbers. I do not have the ballet to hand, and I cannot put together a complete list. The fourth scene (probably the best part of the whole score) must be printed in its entirety" [4].
During Tchaikovsky’s lifetime the concept of a suite remained unrealised [5]. However, in December 1899, Jurgenson brought out a suite for large symphony orchestra (Op. 67-bis), under Aleksandr Ziloti’s editorship, and also in a two-hand arrangement for piano by Eduard Langer. The suite comprised: No. 1—Introduction (Carabosse’s theme) linked to the end of the Prologue (appearance of the Lilac Fairy, and the transformation of the garden into a forest); No. 2—"Rose" Adagio in E♭ (Act I); No. 3—Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat (Act III); No. 4—Panorama; No. 5—Waltz (Act I).
From:
Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), pp. 173–175
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston
Notes:
- Letter 4036 to Pyotr Jurgenson, 14/26 February 1890 Aleksandr Ziloti had already made a solo piano arrangement of the whole ballet [back]
- Letter 4054 to Pyotr Jurgenson, 28 February/12 March 1890 [back]
- Letter 4137 to Pyotr Jurgenson, 4/16 June 1890 [back]
- Letter 4234 to Pyotr Jurgenson, 15/27 October 1890 [back]
- In 1899 the conductor Moritz Keller proposed that Pyotr Jurgenson should publish the suite compiled by him, which was allegedly approved by the composer himself when he heard it played at the Ozerki. Jurgenson expressed an interest in Keller’s suite, but after comparing it with the full score he complained that Keller had "taken pieces from different places, chopped off bits here and there, and glued them together as he saw fit!". "When I asked Ziloti", Jurgenson wrote to Modest Tchaikovsky on 20 November/2 December 1899, "he told me that once he had written down a list of numbers which did not meet with Keller’s approval... The full score of a new version of the suite is already in preparation, but I would like to be sure that Pyotr Il’ich would approve". Modest Tchaikovsky’s reply does not survive, but evidently he did not confirm the claim that the composer approved of Keller’s suite [back]