Select Bibliography
There have been several thousand books and articles written about Tchaikovsky
to date, but a selection of the most important sources are shown below.
1. Sources and Documents
(a) Musical Works
P. I. Chaikovskii: Polnoe sobranie sochinenii. Edited by Boris Asaf'ev
and others (Moscow; Leningrad, 1940-90) [63 volumes; in Russian]
The first "critical edition" of Tchaikovsky's music works. However, in
some vocal works the original texts were altered by the Soviet publishers,
and musical quotations from the Imperial Russian Anthem were also excised
or re-written.
Vols. 1-62 were reprinted by Edwin F Kalmus in the 1970s and redivided into
143 parts, omitting the editorial prefaces and commentary.
P. I. Cajkovskij: New Edition of the Complete Works (Moscow: Muzyka;
Mainz, Schott, 1993+). [76 vols. planned; in Russian and English].
To date only vol. 39 (Symphony
No. 6) and vol. 69b (Grand Sonata
and Children's Album) have been
published. However, there are two practical editions following the Urtext
of the New Edition of the Complete Works:
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Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowsky, Children's Album, op. 39. Collection
of Easy Pieces for Children à la Schumann. Edited from the Sources by
Thomas Kohlhase. Fingering and Notes on Interpretation by Alexandr Satz.
Urtext on Cajkovskij. New Edition of the Complete Works. Wiener Urtext Edition,
Schott / Universal Edition. Wien 2000. (German and English Texts. Follows
the Version of the Autograph.)
-
Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowsky, Grande Sonate for Piano G major opus
37 CW 148. Edited from P. I. Cajkovskij: New Edition of the Complete
Works (NCE) by Thomas Kohlhase. Mainz etc.: Schott, 2004. (English, German
and French Preface. Follows the Version of the Autograph.)
(b) Writings & Correspondence
P. I. Chaikovskii: Polnoe sobranie sochinenii: Literaturnye proizvedeniia
i perepiska. Moskva, 1953-81 [17 vols, in Russian].
Includes almost all Tchaikovsky's known letters, and also his books, articles
and translations. 248 letters were been censored, in order to remove profanities
and abusive vocabulary, references to homosexuality, intimate relationships
and illnesses (whether his own or those of his relatives and servants), and
passages which were considered ideologically unacceptable by the Soviet editors.
Muzykal´nye fel´etony i zametki Petra Il´icha Chaikovskogo (1868-1876).
(Moscow, 1898). 397 pages [in Russian].
The first collection of Tchaikovsky's articles on music written for the
newspaper Russkie vedemosti and others. Abridged German translations
as Musikalische Einnerungen und Feuilletons von Peter Tschaikowsky
(Berlin, 1899) and P. Tschaikowsky, Musikalische Essays und Erinnerungen (Berlin, 2002).
P. I. Chaikovskii: Muzykal´no-kriticheskie stat´i. Edited by V. V.
Iakovlev (Moscow, 1953). 436 pages [in Russian].
Adapted from vol. 2 of Polnoe sobranie sochinenii: Literaturnye proizvedeniia
i perepiska (see above). Abridged German translation as P. I. Tschaikowsky:
Erinnerungen und Musikkritiken (Leipzig, 1961, repr. 1974; Wiesbaden, c.1981).
Tchaikovsky's collected music-critical articles have not yet appeared in an
English translation.
P. I. Chaikovskii: Perepiska s N. F. von-Mekk. Edited by V. A. Zhdanov
and N. T. Zhegin. [3 vols.] (Moscow, Leningrad, 1934-36). 643, 677 and 683 pages
[in Russian].
The composer's vast correspondence with Nadezhda Von Meck (1876-91). German
version by Ena von Baer as Teure Freundin: Peter Iljitsch Tschaikowskis
in seinen Briefen an Nadeshda Von Meck. (Leipzig, 1964); English version
by Galina Von Meck as To my best friend: Correspondence between Tchaikovsky
and Nadezhda Von Meck, 1876-1878 (Oxford, New York, 1993). ISBN 0-19-816158-1.
P. I. Chaikovskii: Perepiska s P. I. Iurgensonom. Edited by V. A.
Zhdanov and N. T. Zhegin (Moscow, 1938-52) [2 vols.] 384 & 344 pages [in Russian].
Tchaikovsky's correspondence with his published, Petr Jurgenson.
P. I. Chaikovskii: Pis´ma k rodnym. Vol. 1: 1850-1879. Edited by V.
A. Zhdanov (Moscow, 1940). 768 pages [in Russian].
This collection of letters from Tchaikovsky to his close family members
was largely uncensored; however, the planned vol. 2 was never published, and
instead it was replaced by Pis'ma k blizkim (see below).
P. I. Chaikovskii - S. I. Taneev: Pis´ma. Compiled and edited
by V. A. Zhdanov (Moscow, 1951). 557 pages [in Russian].
Tchaikovsky's correspondence with Sergei Taneev, Anna Merkling, Nikolai
Konradi, Iulia Shpazhinskaia, Natal'ia Plesskaia and Desirée Artõt.
P. I. Chaikovskii: Pis´ma k blizkim: Izbrannoe. Edited
by V. A. Zhdabov (Moscow; Leningrad, 1955). 672 pages [in Russian].
Selections of Tchaikovsky's correspondence with family members. English
translation (with additional material) by Galina Von Meck as P. I. Tchaikovsky:
Letters to his family. An autobiography. (London, New York, 1981). 577
pages. ISBN 0-23477-250-6 (UK), 0-8128-2802-X (USA).
Chaikovskii i zarubezhnye muzykanty: Izbrannye pis´ma inostrannykh korrsepondentov.
Compiled by N. A. Alekseeva (Leningrad, 1970). 239 pages [mainly in Russian,
portions of letters in German or French].
Extracts from Tchaikovsky's correspondence with over 70 foreign musicians,
including DvoÍák, Grieg, Liszt and Saint-Saëns.
(c) Diaries
Dnevniki P. I. Chaikovskogo (1873-1891). Edited by I. Tchaikovsky
(Moscow, Petrograd, 1923; repr. 1993, 2000, etc.). 294 pages [in Russian].
Tchaikovsky's diaries, as edited for publication by his brother Ippolit.
English version by Wladimir Lakond as The diaries of Tchaikovsky (New
York, 1945, etc.); German version by Ernst Kuhn as P. I. Tschaikowsky:
Die Tagebücher (Berlin, 1992).
(d) Memoirs
Chaikovskii: Vospominaniia i pis´ma. Edited by Igor Glebov (Leningrad,
1924). 232 pages [in Russian].
One of the earliest compilations of memoirs, with recollections by Aleksandr
Glazunov, Vladimir Pogozhev, and correspondence with the conductor Eduard
Nápravník.
Vospominaniia o P. I. Chaikovskom (Moscow, 1962; 2nd edition, 1973;
3rd edition, 1979; 4th edition, 1980) [in Russian].
The most substantial source for recollections of the composer; contents
vary from edition to edition.
Piotr Tchaïkovski: Écrits critiques, lettres, souvenirs de contemporains
(Moscow, 1985). 382 pages. ISBN 5-05-000379-2 [in French].
Memoirs of Tchaikovsky's contemporaries, and selections from the composer's
musical articles, letters and diaries.
BROWN, D. Tchaikovsky remembered (London; Boston, 1993). 248 pages
[in English]. ISBN 0-571-16866-3.
German translation by Tobias Döring as Peter I. Tschaikowsky im Spiegel
seiner Zeit (Mainz, 1996).
KUHN, E. Tschaikowsky aus der Nähe. Kritische Würdigungen und Erinnerungen
von Zeitgenossen. Unter anderem mit Beiträgen von Mili Balakirew Y sowie
einigen Pressinterviews Peter Tschaikowskys. 301 pages [in German]. ISBN: 3-928864-09-2.
Collection of memoirs, articles and interviews.
POZNANSKY, A. Tchaikovsky through others' eyes. (Bloomington: Indiana
Univ. Press, 1999). 311 pages [in English]. ISBN 0-253-35545-0.
A compilation of memoirs and interviews with Tchaikovsky.
2. Catalogues, Bibliographies and Surveys
JURGENSON, B. P. Catalogue thématique des œuvres de P. Tschaïkowsky.
(Moscow, 1897; repr. New York, 1940; London, 1965). 168 pages [in French].
A thematic catalogue arranged by opus number, but omitting many compositions
and containing very few details about each work.
Dni i gody P. I. Chaikovskogo: Letopis´ zhizni i tvorchestva. (Moscow;
Leningrad, 1940). 744 pages [in Russian].
A day-by-day listing of the most significant events in the composer's life,
including quotations from letters, diaries and newspaper articles. Includes
catalogues of works and correspondence.
Muzykal´noe nasledie Chaikovskogo: Iz istorii ego proizvedenii. (Moscow,
1958). 541 pages [in Russian].
A detailled history of each of Tchaikovsky's musical works, with copious
bibliographical references, indexes, bibliography and appendices.
DOMBAEV, G. S. Tvorchestvo Petra Il'icha Chaikovskogo v materialakh i
dokumentakh. (Moscow, 1958). 635 pages.
Presents a chronological list of references for all the composer’s musical
and literary works, using extracts from correspondence, diaries, articles,
reviews, etc.
DOMBAEV. G. S. Muzykal´noe nasledie P. I. Chaikovskogo: Spravochnik.
(Moscow, 1958). 77 pages [in Russian].
A series of tables showing the dates of composition, first performance,
publication and other data for each of Tchaikovsky's works. German version
as Systematisches Verzeichnis der Werke von Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowsky:
Ein Handbuch für die Musikpraxis.(Hamburg, 1973). 112 pages. ISBN 3-920880-08-0.
POZNANSKY, A. & LANGSTON, B. The Tchaikovsky Handbook: A guide to the man and his music.
(Indiana University Press, 2002) [in English].
Vol. 1. Thematic Catalogue of Works, Catalogue of Photographs, Autobiography.
636 pages. ISBN 0-253-33921-9.
Vol. 2. Catalogue of Letters, Genealogy, Bibliography. 832 pages. ISBN
0-253-33947-2.
3. Biographies and Studies
TCHAIKOVSKY, M. I. Zhizn´ Petra Il´icha Chaikovskogo. [3 vols] (Moscow,
Leipzig, 1900-02; repr. 1997) [in Russian].
Biography of the composer by his brother Modest, in 3 volumes. Includes
excerpts from selected letters, reminiscences, etc.
German version by Paul Juon as Das Leben Peter Iljitsch Tschaikowsky's.
Von Modest Tschaikowsky (Moscow; Leipzig, 1901-04), 831 pages;
English version (based on the German) by Rosa Newmarch as The life and
letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) (London; New York, 1906;
repr. 1924, 1970, etc.). 782 pages.
KNORR, I. Peter Jljitsch Tschaikowsky. (Berlin, 1900). 91 pages [in
German].
NEWMARCH, R. H. Tchaikovsky: His life and works. With extracts from his
writings, and the diary of his tour abroad in 1888. (London; New York, 1900).
232 pages [in English].
2nd edition), with supplements and revisions by Edwin Evans (London, New
York, 1908).
EVANS, E. Tchaikovsky (London; New York,
1906). 207 pages [in English].
Part of the.Master Musicians Series.
Many reprints.
IARUSTOVSKII, B. M. Opernaia dramaturgiia Chaikovskogo. (Moscow; Leningrad,
1947). 244 pages [in Russian].
Analysis of Tchaikovsky's operas.
WEINSTOCK, H. Tchaikovsky (New York, 1943, 1944, 1946, etc.). 386
pages [in English].
Russian symphony: Thoughts about Tchaikovsky.
By Dmitri Shostakovich and others New York, 1947. 271 pages [in English].
KUNIN, I. F. Petr Il´ich Chaikovskii (Moscow,
1958). 368 pages [in Russian].
AL´SHVANG, A. A. P. I. Chaikovskii. (Moscow, 1959). 702 pages [in
Russian].
WARRACK, J. Tchaikovsky symphonies and concertos. (London: 1969, rev.
1974). 64 pages [in English].
GARDEN, E. Tchaikovsky. (London; New York, 1973 etc.) 194 pages [in
English].
BROWN, D. Tchaikovsky: A biographical and critical study [4 vols.]
(London; New York, 1978-91) [in English].
NORRIS, G. Stanford, the Cambridge Jubilee, and Tchaikovsky. (Newton
Abbot, Devon; North Pomfret, Vermont, 1980). 584 pages [in English]. ISBN: 0-7153-7856-2.
WILEY, R. J. Tchaikovsky's ballets (Oxford; New York, 1985, 1986,
1991, etc.). 429 pages [in English]. ISBN 0-19-315314-9.
YOFFE, E. Tchaikovsky in America: The composer's visit in 1891. (New
York; Oxford, 1986). 216 pages [in English]. ISBN: 0-19-504117-8.
POZNANSKY, A. Tchaikovsky: The quest for the inner man. (New York;
Toronto, 1991). 679 pages. ISBN 0-02-871885-2 [in English].
LISCHKÉ, A. Piotr Ilyitch Tchaïkovski. (Paris, 1993). 1132 pages [in
French]. ISBN 2-213-03191-6.
SOKOLOV, V. Antonina Chaikovskaia: Istoriia zabytoi zhizni. (Moskva,
1994). 293 pages [in Russian]. ISBN 5-7140-0565-1.
Tchaikovsky's relationship with his wife, Antonina.
POZNANSKY, A. Tchaikovsky's last days: A documentary study. (Oxford;
New York, 1996). 236 pages [in English]. ISBN 0-19-816596-X.
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