Jump to content

Capriccio Italien: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
⚫
[[File:Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.jpg|thumb|[[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]], circa 1875; portrait by Charles Reutlinger]]The '''''Capriccio Italien''''', Op. 45, is a [[fantasy (music)|fantasy]] for [[orchestra]] composed between January and May 1880 by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]. A typical performance of the piece lasts about 15 minutes.
{{multiple issues|
{{Refimprove|date=May 2013}}
{{more footnotes|date=May 2013}}
}}


==Background==
⚫
The '''''Capriccio Italien''''', Op. 45, is a [[fantasy (music)|fantasy]] for [[orchestra]] composed between January and May 1880 by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]].
The ''[[Capriccio (music)|Capriccio]]'' was inspired by a trip Tchaikovsky took to [[Rome]] with his brother [[Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Modest]] as respite from the composer's disastrous marriage with [[Antonina Miliukova]]. It was in Rome, however, that the observant Tchaikovsky called [[Raphael]] a "[[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] of painting."<ref name=Huscher>{{cite web |last1=Huscher|first1=Phillip|url=http://cso.org/uploadedfiles/1_tickets_and_events/program_notes/programnotes_cso_morton_tchaikovsky.pdf|title=Music by Piotr Tchaikovsky|website=Chicago Symphony Orchestra|format=PDF |accessdate=11 January 2016}}</ref>


While in Rome, he wrote to his friend [[Nadezhda von Meck]]:
The [[Capriccio (music)|Capriccio]] was inspired by a trip Tchaikovsky took to [[Rome]], during which he saw the Carnival in full swing, and is reminiscent of [[Italy|Italian]] folk music and street songs.<ref>For this and what follows, see {{cite web |url=http://www.istrianet.org/istria/music/history-folklore/tchaikovsky1.htm |title=The Origins of Capriccio Italien in A Major, op. 45 (1880) |accessdate=2007-05-21}}</ref>{{better source|date=May 2013}} As these elements are treated rather freely initially he intended this piece to be called Italian Fantasia.<ref>Brown (1986), p. 95</ref> Tchaikovsky even uses as the introduction a bugle call that he overheard from his hotel played by Italian cavalry regiment. Another source of inspiration for this piece are [[Mikhail Glinka]]'s Spanish Pieces.
:I have already completed the sketches for an Italian fantasia on folk tunes for which I believe a good fortune may be predicted. It will be effective, thanks to the delightful tunes which I have succeeded in assembling partly from anthologies, partly from my own ears in the streets.<ref name=Rabben>{{cite web |last1=Rabben|first1=Jon|url=http://ccsymphony.com/programnotes/120226programnotes.pdf |title=Program Notes - February 26, 2012 |website=Carson City Symphony|format=PDF |accessdate=11 January 2016}}</ref>
Conductor [[JoAnn Falletta]] says:
:We are hearing foreigners’ views of Italy. . . . [however,] Capriccio Italien has great power, even though it’s practically a pops piece, Tchaikovsky knows what the instruments can do in a virtuoso way. He brings them to their limit in the most thrilling fashion. He has a gift for mixing families of instruments just right – like cantabile strings along with mighty brass. I hear the ballet element in everything Tchaikovsky writes, in his sense of rhythm. You can practically dance to both these scores!<ref name=Shulman>{{cite web |last1=Shulman|first1=Laurie|url=http://www.virginiasymphony.org/file/Caprccio%20Pro%20Notes.pdf |title=Program Notes|website=Virginia Symphony |format=PDF |accessdate=11 January 2016}}</ref>


The piece, initially called Italian Fantasia after [[Mikhail Glinka]]'s Spanish pieces<ref name=Meltzer />, the piece was originally dedicated to the virtuosic cellist [[Karl Davydov]] and premiered in [[Moscow]] on 18 December 1880, with [[Nikolai Rubinstein]] conducting the [[Russian Musical Society|Imperial Russian Musical Society]].<ref>Kern Holoman, p. 601</ref>
The [[premiere]] was held in [[Moscow]] on December 18 of the same year; the orchestra was led by [[Nikolai Rubinstein]]. Although Tchaikovsky wrote to his patroness [[Nadezhda von Meck]] that the work would be successful (the piece was praised by most critics){{Citation needed|date=April 2007}} by the time he came to orchestrate the work he expressed doubts about its musical substance.<ref>Brown (1986), p. 96</ref>


==Structure==
Dedicated to [[Karl Davydov]], the ''Capriccio'' was later arranged by the composer for 4-hand [[piano]].{{citation needed|date=May 2013}} A typical performance lasts for around 15 minutes.
⚫
The Capriccio is scored for: 3 [[flute]]s (3rd doubling on [[piccolo]]), 2 [[oboe]]s, [[English horn]], 2 [[clarinet]]s in A, 2 [[bassoon]]s, 4 [[French horn|horns]] in F, 2 [[cornet]]s in A, 2 [[trumpet]]s in E, 3 [[trombone]]s (2 tenor, 1 bass), [[tuba]], 3 [[timpani]], [[Triangle (musical instrument)|triangle]], [[tambourine]], [[cymbal]]s, [[bass drum]], [[glockenspiel]], [[harp]] and [[String instruments|strings]].


After a brief bugle call, inspired by bugle call Tchaikovsky heard daily in his rooms at the Hotel Constanzi, next door to the barracks of the [[Corazzieri|Royal Italian Cuirasseurs]],<ref name=Downes>{{cite web|last1=Downes|first1=Edward|title=1992 Jul 08, 09 / Festival / Masur|url=http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/922663c2-e610-48e4-af68-77d54ec2c00a/fullview#page/2/mode/2up|website=Leon Levy Digital Archives|publisher=New York Philharmonic|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref> a stoic, heroic, unsmiling melody is played by the strings. Eventually, this gives way to music sounding as if it could be played by an Italian street band, beginning in the winds and ending with the whole orchestra. <ref name=Schrott>{{cite web|last1=Schrott|first1=Allan|title=Capriccio Italien, for orchestra (or piano, 4 hands), Op. 45|url=http://www.allmusic.com/composition/capriccio-italien-for-orchestra-or-piano-4-hands-op-45-mc0002369293|website=AllMusic|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref> Next, a lively march ensues, followed by a lively [[tarantella]], a ''Cicuzza.''<ref name=Meltzer>{{cite web |last1=Meltzer|first1=Ken|url=https://www.atlantasymphony.org/~/media/Sites/ASO2011/ProgramResources/11-7-13PN.ashx|title=Concerts of Thursday, November 7, and Friday, November 8, 2013, at 8:00p, and Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 7:30p.|website=Atlanta Symphony |format=PDF |accessdate=11 January 2016}}</ref>
==Instrumentation==
⚫
The Capriccio is scored for 3 [[flute]]s (3rd doubling on [[piccolo]]), 2 [[oboe]]s, [[English horn]], 2 [[clarinet]]s in A, 2 [[bassoon]]s, 4 [[French horn|horns]] in F, 2 [[cornet]]s in A, 2 [[trumpet]]s in E, 3 [[trombone]]s (2 tenor, 1 bass), [[tuba]], 3 [[timpani]], [[Triangle (musical instrument)|triangle]], [[tambourine]], [[cymbal]]s, [[bass drum]], [[glockenspiel]], [[harp]] and [[String instruments|strings]].


The brothers were there during [[Carnival]], and, despite calling it "a folly," the composer was able to soak up Italian street music and folk songs which he then incorporated into his ''Capriccio''.<ref name="Classic FM">{{cite web|title=Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien|url=http://www.classicfm.com/composers/tchaikovsky/music/capriccio-italien/|website=Classic FM|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref> This enables some "bright primary colors and uncomplicated tunefulness."<ref name=Mangum>{{cite web|last1=Mangum|first1=John|title=Capriccio Italien|url=http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/philpedia/music/capriccio-italien-peter-ilyich-tchaikovsky|website=Hollywood Bowl|publisher=LA Phil|accessdate=12 January 2016}}</ref>
==Notes==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==References==
==Sources==
*Brown, David. ''Tchaikovsky: The Years of Wandering, 1878–85''. London: Gollancz, 1986
*Brown, David. ''Tchaikovsky: The Years of Wandering, 1878–85''. London: Gollancz, 1986
*Kern Holoman, D. ''Evenings with the Orchestra: A Norton Companion for Concert Goers''. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1992


==External links==
==External links==
Line 25: Line 28:
* [http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Italian_Capriccio Tchaikovsky Research]
* [http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Italian_Capriccio Tchaikovsky Research]
{{Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky}}
{{Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky}}
**{{YouTube | id= Ce5qmAj9XX4 | title= ''Capriccio Italien; [[Moscow City Symphony Orchestra|Moscow City Symphony - Russian Philharmonic]] conducted by [[Michail Jurowski]]}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Capriccioitalien}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Capriccioitalien}}
Line 31: Line 35:
[[Category:1880 compositions]]
[[Category:1880 compositions]]
[[Category:Fantasias (music)|Tchaikovsky]]
[[Category:Fantasias (music)|Tchaikovsky]]


{{classical-composition-stub}}

Revision as of 03:02, 12 January 2016

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, circa 1875; portrait by Charles Reutlinger

The Capriccio Italien, Op. 45, is a fantasy for orchestra composed between January and May 1880 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A typical performance of the piece lasts about 15 minutes.

Background

The Capriccio was inspired by a trip Tchaikovsky took to Rome with his brother Modest as respite from the composer's disastrous marriage with Antonina Miliukova. It was in Rome, however, that the observant Tchaikovsky called Raphael a "Mozart of painting."[1]

While in Rome, he wrote to his friend Nadezhda von Meck:

I have already completed the sketches for an Italian fantasia on folk tunes for which I believe a good fortune may be predicted. It will be effective, thanks to the delightful tunes which I have succeeded in assembling partly from anthologies, partly from my own ears in the streets.[2]

Conductor JoAnn Falletta says:

We are hearing foreigners’ views of Italy. . . . [however,] Capriccio Italien has great power, even though it’s practically a pops piece, Tchaikovsky knows what the instruments can do in a virtuoso way. He brings them to their limit in the most thrilling fashion. He has a gift for mixing families of instruments just right – like cantabile strings along with mighty brass. I hear the ballet element in everything Tchaikovsky writes, in his sense of rhythm. You can practically dance to both these scores![3]

The piece, initially called Italian Fantasia after Mikhail Glinka's Spanish pieces[4], the piece was originally dedicated to the virtuosic cellist Karl Davydov and premiered in Moscow on 18 December 1880, with Nikolai Rubinstein conducting the Imperial Russian Musical Society.[5]

Structure

The Capriccio is scored for: 3 flutes (3rd doubling on piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 cornets in A, 2 trumpets in E, 3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass), tuba, 3 timpani, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, glockenspiel, harp and strings.

After a brief bugle call, inspired by bugle call Tchaikovsky heard daily in his rooms at the Hotel Constanzi, next door to the barracks of the Royal Italian Cuirasseurs,[6] a stoic, heroic, unsmiling melody is played by the strings. Eventually, this gives way to music sounding as if it could be played by an Italian street band, beginning in the winds and ending with the whole orchestra. [7] Next, a lively march ensues, followed by a lively tarantella, a Cicuzza.[4]

The brothers were there during Carnival, and, despite calling it "a folly," the composer was able to soak up Italian street music and folk songs which he then incorporated into his Capriccio.[8] This enables some "bright primary colors and uncomplicated tunefulness."[9]

References

  1. ^ Huscher, Phillip. "Music by Piotr Tchaikovsky" (PDF). Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. ^ Rabben, Jon. "Program Notes - February 26, 2012" (PDF). Carson City Symphony. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  3. ^ Shulman, Laurie. "Program Notes" (PDF). Virginia Symphony. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b Meltzer, Ken. "Concerts of Thursday, November 7, and Friday, November 8, 2013, at 8:00p, and Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 7:30p" (PDF). Atlanta Symphony. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  5. ^ Kern Holoman, p. 601
  6. ^ Downes, Edward. "1992 Jul 08, 09 / Festival / Masur". Leon Levy Digital Archives. New York Philharmonic. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  7. ^ Schrott, Allan. "Capriccio Italien, for orchestra (or piano, 4 hands), Op. 45". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien". Classic FM. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  9. ^ Mangum, John. "Capriccio Italien". Hollywood Bowl. LA Phil. Retrieved 12 January 2016.

Sources

  • Brown, David. Tchaikovsky: The Years of Wandering, 1878–85. London: Gollancz, 1986
  • Kern Holoman, D. Evenings with the Orchestra: A Norton Companion for Concert Goers. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1992
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Capriccio_Italien&oldid=699403587"