Pyotr Tchaikovsky - String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11

"The young Tchaikovsky, barely surviving on his meager salary from the Moscow Conservatory, decided to raise a little money and call attention to his work in early 1871 by presenting a concert of recent compositions. The program was a great success; it consisted of several songs and piano pieces, and, written especially for the occasion, the String Quartet No. 1.

The first movement, Moderato e semplice, takes traditional sonata form and features a fuller, richer development than Tchaikovsky generally had managed. The two songlike main themes are similar rhythmically and atmospherically, although the first is more anticipatory and the second is more of an outright serenade.

The second movement, Andante cantabile, is one of this composer's most beloved creations and is often heard arranged for string orchestra as well as for any number of instrumental combinations. The first melody is a simple, melancholy folk song that Tchaikovsky is said to have learned from a carpenter in Kamenka. The second is original, very much a ballad initially sung by the first violin over the cello's descending, chromatic pizzicato notes.

The Scherzo, Allegro non tanto e con fuoco, is launched with a forceful theme that nevertheless skips to an almost dancelike rhythm. The movement's trio section is more frolicsome, but carries a harmonic tension that keeps it in line with the earlier material. The Finale, Allegro giusto, unravels and re-weaves two themes. The first is much brighter and more celebratory than anything that has come before; the second, introduced by the viola, is lyrical and Russian, and its B flat tonality makes an arresting contrast with the D major material it follows.

Tchaikovsky would write two further string quartets (and a one-movement student piece has also survived), but for most music lovers this Opus 11 work is the Tchaikovsky quartet, as melodic and emotive as the composer's popular orchestral scores."

—James Reel

Date: 1871
Catalogue: Op. 11, Tchaikovsky Handbook 111
Dedicatee: Sergey Rachinsky
Order:
No. 1 - Moderato e semplice in D Major: 0:08
No. 2 - Andante cantabile in B-flat Major: 11:29
No. 3 - Scherzo (Allegro non tanto e con fuoco) in D Minor: 18:57
No. 4 - Finale (Allegro giusto) in D Major: 23:41

Performers: Drolc Quartet

Note: This channel does not own the score or audio, and they are only used for non-commercial purposes. This video is a reupload from Thomas van Dun, who withdrew all score videos of pieces not composed by himself. Due to the age of the recording, the listener may find the playback intonation different from normal.

[seyhanhoroz]

"When Tchaikovsky met Tolstoy in 1876,
it was this andante cantabile that the writer heard with tears in his eyes." [Philip Ross Bullock, Pyotr Tchaikovsky]

[malvafiler]

The andante cantabile bringa tears to me also. My mother used to play the motive on the piano when I was a child. I did not even know it was Tchaikovsky until recently. It is so beautiful!

[lmichaelgreenjr]

13:46 is something very special. A gift from above

[RAE-ehwd]

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1 in D major Op. 11 was the first of his three completed string quartets that were published during his lifetime. An earlier attempt had been abandoned after the first movement was completed.

Composed in February 1871, it was premiered in Moscow on 16/28 March 1871 by four members of the Russian Musical Society: Ferdinand Laub and Ludvig Minkus, violins; Pryanishnikov, viola; and Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, cello. Tchaikovsky arranged the second movement for cello and string orchestra in 1888.

Structure:

The quartet has four movements:

Moderato e semplice (D major): 0:08
Andante cantabile (B♭ major): 11:29
Scherzo. Allegro non tanto e con fuoco – Trio (D minor): 18:57
Finale. Allegro giusto – Allegro vivace (D major): 23:41

[mr-wxlv]

Very ambitious work for an early work. Some of those chordal structures are amazing...

[renataribeiro]

Estou ouvindo com a minha filha de 7 anos pela primeira vez. Advinhem? As duas choraram...que beleza de música ❤❤❤

[SuperflyHayden]

11:29 Andante catabile
18:57 Schzero
23:40 Finale

[yu-hengwang]

Does this sound really sharp, like a whole-step sharp to anyone?

[jorgeflores]

It is said that Tolstoi wept when listening to the second movement. The source? PIT who was sitting next to him

[unclejuniorsoprano]

THE ANDANTE CANTABILE IS DEFINITELY ON THE LEVEL OF LVB"S EARLY & MIDDLE QRTs BUT A BIT MORE MELODIC. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE MUSIC. IT'S SCORED AS D MAJOR, BUT I NOTICED SEVERAL KEY CHANGES WITHIN THE MOVEMENTS. I'VE HEARD THIS OPUS MANY TIMES & HAVE NEVER TIRED OF IT. YOU MUST HAVE PERFECT INTONATION TO PLAY THIS ONE WELL.

[jocelynpuddephatt]

Hi there, What's the title page of this music sheet please? I'd love to know the score for this and who the arrangement is by :)

[AvntXardE]

The first movement wasn't anything interesting for me but the second one is very lovely!