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TH 62

Pezzo Capriccioso

For cello with orchestra, B minor, Op. 62 (1887).

• Composed August 1887.
• Scored for Cello solo; 2 Flutes; 2 Oboes; 2 Clarinets (A); 2 Bassoons; 4 Horns (F); Timpani; Violins I; Violins II; Violas; Violoncellos; Double Basses.
• Also arranged for cello and piano by Tchaikovsky, August 1887.
• First performed in Moscow, 25 November/7 December 1889, by Anatolii Brandukov, conducted by Tchaikovsky.
• Dedicated to Anatolii Brandukov.
• Average duration: 7m 30s.

History

The composition of the piece was begun at Aachen after 8/20 August 1887. On 12/25 August, Tchaikovsky noted in his diary: "Worked on a cello piece". On 14/26 August he noted: "Finished the cello piece in rough" [1].

In a letter to Anatolii Brandukov of 13/25 August, Tchaikovsky reported: "I have written a small cello piece, and would like you to look through it, and put the final touches to the cello part" [2]. By 15 August he had begun to make the piano score of the piece, and on 19th he began the instrumentation [3]. Staying at Aachen with the seriously-ill Nikolai Kondratev (whom Tchaikovsky had come especially to see), took a considerable toll on the composer's morale. Having awaited the arrival of Kondratev's nephew, Tchaikovsky left for Russia on 25 August/6 September. From Berlin he wrote to Brandukov: "I did not manage to finish the piece at Aachen. I shall put it aside until I can confer with you in Saint Petersburg, or when we meet in Moscow". He added: "I think the piece has turned out rather poorly" [4].

On 28 August/9 September, Tchaikovsky arrived in Saint Petersburg, and on 30 August/11 Septemberh he sent Petr Jurgenson the finished piece, in piano arrangement and full score, asking that the arrangement be given to Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, so that he might "might look over the cello part and suggest any markings specific to the soloist. I’ve written the full score anyway, and I don’t mind whether or not you print it or the parts; but I would be very glad if you print the piano arrangement. This piece is the single fruit of my musical spirit from the whole summer" [5].

The first performance of the Pezzo Cpriccioso took place on 16/28 February 1888 at the home of Marie Benardaky, during Tchaikovsky's visit to Paris; the cello part was played by Anatolii Brandukov, and the piano part by the author. The first performance with orchestral accompaniment was given by Anatolii Brandukov in Moscow at a special concert of the Russian Musical Society on 25 November/7 December 1889, conducted by Tchaikovsky.

The Pezzo Capriccioso was published by Petr Jurgenson in 1888: the orchestral parts in January, and the arrangement for cello with piano in March. Publication of the full score was delayed because Tchaikovsky had taken the manuscript abroad with him, and only returned it to Jurgenson on 24 April/6 May 1888 [6]. The full score was printed in July the same year.

Dedicated to Anatolii Brandukov.

From: Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), pp. 334–335
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston

References:

1. Дневники П. И. Чайковского (1923), pp. 168–169 [back]
2. Letter 3317 to Anatolii Brandukov, 13/25 August 1887 [back]
3. Дневники П. И. Чайковского (1923), pp. 169, 171 [back]
4. Letter 3329 to Anatolii Brandukov, 26 August/7 September 1887 [back]
5. Letter 3332 to Petr Jurgenson, 30 August/11 September 1887 [back]
6. See letter 3565 to Petr Jurgenson, 10/22 May 1888 [back]