Exploring Tchaikovsky

His symphonic works are some of my favorites. I especially like Symphonies #4 and #5.
His ballets (Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty) are obvious places to start, as well as his first Piano Concerto.

Just don't. If you found Beethoven dark and malevolent, then there is no hope for Tchaikovsky.

musicrom said:

His symphonic works are some of my favorites. I especially like Symphonies #4 and #5.
His ballets (Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty) are obvious places to start, as well as his first Piano Concerto.

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Thanks! Then I'm starting with the ballets

Serenade for Strings, Romeo & Juliet Overture, Swan Lake, Symphony No. 6.

Halfway through Swan Lake. Great music, but too dark and malevolent for me, as DrMike might have expected.

Swan Lake, Act II, No. 13 Dances of the Swans, VI Tempo di valse

This is the only piece that I liked.

John Galt said:

Halfway through Swan Lake. Great music, but too dark and malevolent for me, as DrMike might have expected.

Swan Lake, Act II, No. 13 Dances of the Swans, VI Tempo di valse

This is the only piece that I liked.

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Do you think anyone here cares anymore? You're a bit of a provocateur, aren't you? You summed up Bach in an hour or two, and now onto Tchaikovsky?

John Galt said:

Halfway through Swan Lake. Great music, but too dark and malevolent for me, as DrMike might have expected.

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You're losing your poker face.

starthrower said:

Do you think anyone here cares anymore? You're a bit of a provocateur, aren't you? You summed up Bach in an hour or two, and now onto Tchaikovsky?

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Actually, I spent 7 hours on Bach.

Just ignore the thread if you don't care.

I wonder if the first movement of Mendelssohn's 4th symphony 'Italian' is too dark and malevolent for you or just boring. Not Tchaikovsky, but what DrMike said is probably true.

John Galt said:

Mozart was boring. Chopin was amazing. Bach was somewhere in between. Now I want to explore Tchaikovsky, and I'm asking for suggestions where to start

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Yeah. Try Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suite No. 4, Op. 61.

John Galt said:

Actually, I spent 7 hours on Bach.

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That's all you'd really need to write a dissertation on the man's life work. Hell, I'd try 5 hours next time. You're a busy man, I assume. 4 hours if you'd rather offset the horribly boring classical music with a Kanye West album.

I bet I can dismiss Bach faster than you! I think I can do it in thirty minutes or less!

Here's pro-life music:

OldFashionedGirl said:

Here's pro-life music:

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I see your Barney theme song and raise you a Care Bear theme song

I may not agree with your sentiments -- referring to the OP -- but if you are delving into Tchaikovsky, the Serenade for Strings and Symphony No. 6 are (my) obvious recommendations.

violadude said:

I see your Barney theme song and raise you a Care Bear theme song

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I'll up the ante with your Care Bear theme song with a Josie and the Pussycats main title:


Melodie (the blonde) is my girl.

Try Grieg next.

neoshredder said:

Try Grieg next.

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He'll be too simple.

MoonlightSonata said:

He'll be too simple.

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Grieg or the OP?