Edward Dannreuther, an English pianist of German origin, says, “Tchaikovsky’s compositions, more or less, bear the impress of the Slavonic temperament – fiery exaltation on a basis of languid melancholy. He is fond of huge and fantastic outlines, of bold modulations and strongly marked rhythms, of subtle melodic turns and exuberant figuration, and he delights in gorgeous effects of orchestration. His music everywhere makes the impression of genuine spontaneous originality. Many wonder what else Tchaikovsky might have had to offer the music community in his time. Others ask the question how he died. In the same letter to Bob Davydoff dated February 23, 1893 the composer said (the letter in full):

During my travels I had an idea for another symphony, this time a programme-symphony, but with a programme which shall remain a mystery for every one -–let them guess away, but the symphony will be called merely A Programme Symphony (No. 6). The programme itself is subjective to the core . . . As regards from there will be in this symphony a great deal that is new, and among other things the finale will be, not a noisy Allegro but, on the contrary, a very leisurely Adagio. You can’t conceive what bliss it is to be convinced that my time is not yet over and that I’m still able to work.

This is the letter that is the chief evidence of those persons who think Tchaikovsky committed suicide by drinking a glass of raw water seven months later. The Sixth Symphony by Tchaikovsky tells us something strangely final, it tells us that this man’s cup was full, he had attained what which he so often told his “best friend” he longed to attain. He had perfected his talent to the limit of his ability, he had fulfilled his urgent duty toward that gift which the gods had given him. “God rest the soul of Peter Ilyich, who worked so hard, who sinned and suffered for his sins-who was an artist, and true to himself.”

Many critics and writers have discussed and debated what the true meaning of the symphony actually was. Some think it was a “confession of homosexual anguish” and others speculate that it was a “projection of suicide.” Many also argue that “the debate is both idle and naïve. There is evidence enough to assume that the program in question is no mystery at all. In fact, Tchaikovsky developed the composition to a great extent from sketches for an earlier work, a Symphony in E flat major (1891-92) which he planned to entitle Life in his notebooks, but which he considered a failure and never completed.”

Going into the premiere performance of the symphony in St. Petersburg, Tchaikovsky’s original intent was to name the work the ‘Programme Symphony’ to signify its shifting moods were intended

Some topics in this essay:
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