Tchaikovsky P. The Seasons. 12 characteristic pictures for piano

“The Seasons” is the greatest achievement of Tchaikovsky's piano output. This composition was commissioned by N. M. Bemard — the publisher of the St. Petersburg popular music magazine “Nuvellist” at the end of 1875 and beginning of 1876. When negotiating the commission, the editor showed initiative and even proposed the names of the pieces. “I’ll keep all your titles” the composer answered, captivated by the work.

Each piece of the series published in the magazine was prefaced with an epigraph taken from Russian poetry. Apparently the composer did not object and the verse epigraphs were preserved in all subsequent editions issued during the composer's lifetime. Our publication is based on P. Jurgenson's edition (P. Tchaikovsky. Complete Works for Piano. V. 3). The texts of the verse epigraphs are taken from the edition of “The 5easons” prepared by Ja. Milstein and K. Sorokin in 1956.

Contents:

January: At the Fireside (A major) (Music text example)
February: Carnival (D major)
March: Song of the Lark (G minor)
April: Snowdrop (B-flat major)
May: Starlit Nights (G major)
June: Barcarolle (G minor)
July: Song of the Reaper (E-flat major)
August: Harvest (B minor) (Music text example)
September: The Hunt (G major)
October: Autumn Song (D minor)
November: Troika (E major)
December: Christmas (A-flat major)