Tell Tchaikovsky The News

[filkertom]

Today is the birthday of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, another one of those composers without whom our lives would be infinitely poorer. Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Eugene Onegin, the symphonies, the concerti, the 1812 Overture, the Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture, Marche Slave....

Any particular favorites of yours? (Here's a reminder.)

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Give me Marche Slave to play any day over 1812 (mainly because I learned it first; it's still a bit more fun on second and third thought, though).

I like all the ballets, though am a bit tired of The Nutcracker -- except when I'm watching Fantasia. And most of the orchestral works; I'm not so fond of piano concertos, but I even enjoy the ones he wrote.

Let's have a Piotr Ilich-fest -- and we'd better do it big, to match his music!

[random314.livejournal.com]

Fourth Symphony--it was one of the first pieces I had to play in Orchestra at college, and it's hard. I spent the entire summer before practicing the Double Bass parts for Movements I and IV. Twenty years and lots of pieces later, I still can't forget the effort it took to get the Fourth Symphony down. (I've played #5 too, and it's a blast!)

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

I have to admit...the 1812. Just for the cannons. Of course, this (http://schwicky.net/calvin/show/something_under_the_bed_is_drooling/the_1812_ouverture_percussion_cannons/) is part of the fun.

[crwilley.livejournal.com]

Again, you want me to pick just one? How 'bout three?
5th Symphony (the Fourth was cool too, but the 5th just got me...)
Serenade for Strings
Marche Slave

...but, as usual, I can't think of anything by Tchaikovsky that I don't like.

[patoadam]

The violin concerto. Definitely.

There's the moment when, after a long build-up, the main theme comes back: DUM DUM dudda-ludda DUM, da DUM...

It's sunshine and blue skies and laundry drying outdoors on a clothesline.

Sorry about the laundry imagery. It's not my fault, it's Tchaikovsky's.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

The 1812 Overture for me! Expressive, beautiful, and it uses freaking field artillery as a percussion insturment!! Woo!!!!

Tell Tchaikovsky The News

[bschilli.livejournal.com]

Call me whatever, but I do like the 1812 overture. It was one of the first records (remember records) I ever had. My grandmother gave it and a couple others to me when I was six or seven.

Ben

[sarekofvulcan.livejournal.com]

Ormandy and the Philadelphia. Romeo and Juliet, Eugene Onegin, and the 1812 Overture with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Best.

Album.

Ever.

[trdsf.livejournal.com]

1979. Downtown Toledo. The Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the 1812, some howitzers about to be retired from the Ohio Guard, and every church bell in the downtown area. Total Sensurround. <ComicShopGuy>Best. 1812. Ever.</ComicShopGuy>