Arachnopnonia: Tchaikovsky “Souvenir de Florence, op. 70”

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(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Brianna (class of 2023) and features a score and a recording of Tchaikovksy’s string sextet “Souvenir de Florence”. Thanks, Brianna!

Tchaikovsky – Souvenir de Florence, op. 70
Score
CD

Florence, Italy

Souvenir de Florence is a chamber piece written by the great Romantic Era composer Tchaikovsky. It involves 2 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos all playing their own parts. I find this composition incredibly interesting because of the moments of chaos created by 6 different parts being played at once, but also because of the brilliant moments where Tchaikovsky blends the sounds of the 6 instruments incredibly well. Tchaikovsky dedicated this piece to the St. Petersburg Chamber Music Society after becoming an Honorary Member.

Souvenir de Florence score first edition

Title page of the first printed edition of Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence score

The principle theme of this piece was written during a visit to Florence, Italy, hence the title which translates to “Memory of Florence”. The first movement, in sonata form, is likely the most memorable of the 4 in the piece as it starts off with a bang and returns to the beginning theme at the end with even more energy. However, my favorite movements are the last two. These movements have distinct Russian folk-like melodies that contrast the music in the first two, and which I think are the most interesting of the 4. As a whole, I think this is my favorite chamber piece I have ever heard. Be sure to pick up the score or find it on a CD at the Music Library!

Parsons Playlists: Tchaikovsky

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Eli (class of 2024) and features music by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).

Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Tchaikovsky was unquestionably one of the greatest composers to walk the Earth. Even those who turn up their nose at ‘boring’ classical music can find something in Tchaikovsky’s massive repertoire. Here is a sampling of some of his less mainstream (but still masterpiece) works.

Portrait of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64: II. Andante cantabile

Marche slave, Op. 31, TH 45

Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36: I. Andante sostenuto

Eugene Onegin (Lyrical scenes in three acts), Act 1: Introduction

Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 13 “Winter Dreams”: I. Allegro tranquillo

Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 “Pathétique”: I. Adagio

Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70, TH 118: I. Allegro con spirito

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyRH7Dyv29EsxGtmHRWgzCP