{ Program Notes
Tchaikovsky’s most famous melodies, full
of Romantic yearning. Suddenly, the dramatic development bursts on us fortissimo.
The frenzy subsides briefly for a brass
chorale, intoning the Russian Orthodox
funeral chant “With the Saints,” and
closes with a passionately tragic passage
for the brass. This emotional roller coaster
of a movement concludes with a simple
but powerful brass coda over descending
pizzicato strings.
Tchaikovsky adored the ballet; it was
his ideal escape from dark thoughts. And
that’s exactly how the second movement’s
waltz intermezzo acts here: it is an oasis of
peace and beauty in the midst of suffering.
But it is a strange limping waltz in 5/4 time
instead of the usual 3/4. And its middle
trio section features a rather intense violin
theme that unsettles the waltz’s gaiety.
Third movement: If death can’t be
beaten back with a waltz, Tchaikovsky
next tries a boisterous march. However,
first we hear nervously flickering scherzo
music, with the oboe and brass peeping
through with the march theme. This
edgy scherzo continues to undercut the
confident sound of the march.
Exposing the falsity of the march’s triumph, the opening of the finale provides
one of the most jarring emotional contrasts in all symphonic music. In a slow
tempo, the strings cry out a theme of utter
despair. They are joined by HX] B