Tchaikovsky
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Chorus for Students of the Patriotic Institute

Хор для студентиков Патриотического института

For unaccompanied women's voices (1880).

History

Written in August-September 1880, at the request of Tchaikovsky’s niece, Anna Davydova. In a letter of 20 August/1 September 1880, Anna Davydova wrote: "For All Saints day we have to compose music for a set of verses for female chorus in three parts, although not very difficult, with accompaniment... Is there is the slightest possibility that you might carry out this unprecedented and impertinent request?" [1].

In her memoirs, Anna Davydova wrote: "I was educated at an institute, and because I was Tchaikovsky’s niece, my principal decided that I ought to be a great musician. Once my friends was writing a cantata, and I was instructed to compose the music. This proved to be very easy: I had only to write to Uncle Petia, and he sent the music to me right away! It was performed, but I did confess that it was written by my uncle. Unfortunately, the cantata has now vanished completely" [2].

From: Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), pp. 346–347
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston

Notes:

1. Letter from Anna Davydova to Tchaikovsky, 20 August/1 September 1880 — Klin House-Museum Archive [back]
2. Unpublished manuscript in the M. I. Glinka Museum of Musical Culture, Moscow [back]