Tchaikovsky · Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky 'Manfred' Symphony in B minor
The unnumbered symphony, Byron's lonely hero
- Key
- B minor
- Composed
- 1885
- Premiere
- 1886 Moscow
- Duration
- About 55 min
- Movements
- 4 movements
- Instrumentation
- Woodwinds 3·2·2·3 (+ piccolo, English horn, bass clarinet) · Brass 4·2·3·1 (+ 2 cornets) · Timpani · Percussion (triangle, cymbals, bass drum, tambourine, tam-tam, bells) · Harps 2 · Keyboard (harmonium, organ may substitute) · Strings
The story behind this piece
It is based on Byron's dramatic poem 'Manfred.' The program was originally drawn up by the critic Stasov and given to Balakirev; Balakirev first offered it to Berlioz, was turned down, and then passed it on to Tchaikovsky in 1882. At first Tchaikovsky put it off, saying it 'doesn't stir me at all,' but when Balakirev kept pressing, he finally completed it in 1885.
It was written between Nos. 4 and 5, but it has no number. It was premiered in Moscow in March 1886 under Max Erdmannsdörfer. Tchaikovsky's opinion of it swung back and forth. At one point he said it might be 'the best of my symphonies,' and later he even said he wanted to destroy the score. Of course, he never actually did.
Listen · Score
- Hear the full piece on YouTube · hr-Sinfonieorchester · Vasily Petrenko
- Free scores on IMSLP (full score and parts)
Credits