Tchaikovsky P. Symphony No 6. Pocket Score

Symphony No 6 is the last symphonic composition by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The work at it continued from February 4 to August 12, 1893, when Tchaikovsky stayed in Klin, near Moscow. The drafts were over on March 24. Then there appeared the piano рiесes ор 72 and the romances to the verses by D. Rathaus. The journey via Europe preceded the completion оf the Third piano concerto. Only then the time of the sixth symphony came.The composer was making the orchestral score during the period оf July 20 to August 12 already in Klin.  

It was on the first stages of the creative process, when Tchaikovsky implied to the symphony to be given the programme. Its name was supposed to be “The Programmatic Symphony” for the listeners to understand its purport clearly. However, the programme itself was not to be announced. Later the composer considered that intention to be not quite logical, and following his brother Modest's advice he gave it the title “Pathetic”. 

The first public performance took place in Petersburg on October 16, 1893. The author himself conductedit. The premiere execution was accepted rather inadequately. The audience was left cold. Tchaikovsky wrote to Р. Yurgenson: “It was not just simply disliked, only it seemed to have shocked the listeners. As to те,I am proud of it тоге, than of any other compositions of mine”. 

The Sixth symphony was а great success, when Е. Napravnik executed it during its second premiere on November 6, 1893 — twelve days after the author's death.