a dose of music: a classical injection - part 12

Ok, wow, so its been a while since my last post. But I'm still here, so have no fear. I'd like to suggest listening to Peter Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. Its a very popular work that is perfomed quite often, and is one of those symphonies that's harmonically pleasing, brassy, and really exciting. Tchaikovsky wrote the piece for a patron of his, Madame von Meck, to whom he dedicated the piece writing, "Dedicated To My Best Friend." A very wealthy, and seemingly moody and excentric woman, Tchaikovsky and von Meck held extensive correspondence with each other for some 13 years, writing over 1200 letters, and yet never met. The opening statement heard in the brass represents "Fate," and is what Tchaikovsky believed kept one from happiness. As stated in a letter to Madame von Meck, the second movement has a more melancholy, sad, nostalgic feeling, based on wearyness, and the sad and sweet memories of life. "The Third movement," Tchaikovsky says, "expresses no definite feeling. It is made up from capricious arabesques, of elusive images which can rush past in the imagination after drinking a little wine and feeling the first phases of intoxication. The spirit is neither cheerful, nor yet sad. Thinking about nothing, giving free rein to the imagination, which somehow begins to paint strange pictures. Amid these memories there suddenly comes a picture of drunken peasants and a street song ... Then, somewhere in the distance, a military procession passes. These are completely disparate images which rush past in the head during sleep. They have nothing in common with reality; they are strange, wild, and disjointed." Interesting. The fourth movement depicts a picture of a folk holiday, and as Tchiakovsky says, "If within yourself you find no reasons for joy, look at others. Go among the people. Observe how they can enjoy themselves, surrendering themselves wholeheartedly to joyful feelings. A picture of festive merriment of the people." The symphony was written between 1877 and 1878, is made up of four movements, lasting about 45 minutes.