Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 3 in D major, 'Polish'

He wrote it in a couple of months in the summer of 1875, and it was premiered in Moscow that November under Nikolai Rubinstein. Among Tchaikovsky's symphonies, this is the only one in a major key and the only one in five movements. The composer himself judged it by saying, 'There are no especially successful ideas, but technically it's a step forward.'

The nickname 'Polish' was not given by Tchaikovsky. It's said to have been added by August Manns, who conducted the 1899 London premiere, because of the polonaise rhythm in the finale. But since the polonaise was a common dance at Russian balls of the time too, some point out that the piece itself has little that is particularly Polish.