Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features a biography of Russian composer Tchaikovsky. Thanks, Nikoloz!
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was one of the most famous Russian composers. The general public greatly enjoyed his music due to its tuneful melodies, perfect harmonies, and attractive orchestration, all of which together invoke a strong emotional response. He is known for the ballets Swan Lake (1877), The Sleeping Beauty (1889), and The Nutcracker (1892).
Tchaikovsky took up serious composing at the age of 14. In 1862 he began his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and starting in 1866, he began teaching at the Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky revolutionized ballet: transforming it from a grand decorative gesture into a staged musical drama.
I’ve found Tchaikovsky’s music to be particularly useful for helping me focus while studying. Although his work can sometimes hijack your attention, I find it useful to break away from the books and listen to Tchaikovsky’s melodies as a break.
You can check out this book in the Parsons Music Library if you’d like to learn more about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his work.