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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Valse-Scherzo (Tchaikovsky)

The Valse-Scherzo in C major, Op. 34, TH 58, is a work for violin and orchestra by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, written in 1877. It is not to be confused with two similarly named works by Tchaikovsky,

History#

The origins of the Valse-Scherzo are somewhat mysterious. It seems to have been written in January–February 1877; this has been surmised from a letter of 3 February 1877 from Iosif Kotek to Tchaikovsky, which is the first documentary evidence of its existence. There are hints from Kotek’s letters to Tchaikovsky that Kotek was given the honour of orchestrating the Valse-Scherzo, at least in part. But there is no mention of this in any of Tchaikovsky’s correspondence. Sergei Nakariakov has recorded a version for trumpet and piano.

Music#

The orchestration is two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in B, two bassoons, two horns in F, and strings. : \relative c’ \new Staff \key c \major \time 3/4 \tempo “a tempo” g2. \mf ^\markup sul G \downbow a\downbow b8-. ( \upbow c-. d-. e-. f-. g-. a-. ) r a-. \downbow r a-. \downbow r a-. \downbow r a-. \downbow r a-. \downbow r a-. r b4.-> ( a8) g4.-> c8( g4~ g8)

  • *, Gil Shaham (violin), Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev (conductor)
Composer
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky