“Methodological analysis of plays from the “Children’s Album” P. Analysis of the play “March of the Wooden Soldiers” from the “Children’s Album” P.

Message quote Through the pages of Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album". Music in pictures

I've already addressed this wonderful work Here:

Today all the pieces from this album will be performed by the Gnessin Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. Artistic director and conductor Mikhail Khokhlov. Videos made using drawings young artists IV children's festival arts "January evenings" (2010)

In March 1878, P.I. Tchaikovsky arrived at the estate of his sister Alexandra Ilyinichna Davydova.

AND Menie A . I. Davydova
Now the museum of P.I. Tchaikovsky and A.S. Pushkin

He fell into Kamenka unexpectedly, out of the blue, and created a joyful commotion. Alexandra Ilyinichna’s children gave him such a concert that he had to cover his ears. Again the house was filled with “sweet, heavenly” sounds. Pyotr Ilyich settled comfortably in his room and was already scribbling something at his desk. A few days later he let slip:

Now, these birds,” he pointed to the children, “certainly want me to write “every last bit” in their album. I'll write, don't be afraid. I’ll write and we’ll play everything!

And he wrote for the “Children's Album” and played them with children.

Various children's games, dances, and random impressions found their place in the album. Music is both happy and sad ...

Morning prayer

Lord God! Save, warm:
Make us better, make us kinder.
Lord God! Save, save!
Give us the power of your love.

Winter morning

It's freezing. The snow crunches. Fogs over the fields. Early smoke billows out from the huts. The silver of the snow glitters with a purple tint; Spiny frost, as if it were white fluff, covered the bark of the dead branches. I love to amuse my gaze through the brilliant pattern of a new picture; I love to watch in silence how early in the morning the Village cheerfully meets winter... A. Maikov

Mother

Mom, very, very
I love you!
I love you so much that at night
I don't sleep in the dark.
I peer into the darkness
I'm hurrying Zorka.
I love you all the time
Mommy, I love you!
The dawn is shining.
It's already dawn.
No one in the world
There is no better mother!

Kostas Kubilinskas

Horse game

I'm flying on my horse like a whirlwind,
I really want to become a brave hussar.
Dear horse, riding on you,
I gallop across the meadow dashingly with the breeze.

Brand new, beautiful soldiers just attract you. They are just like the real thing, you can line them up and send them to the parade. So they know how to march like real people, and it’s so cool that you just feel like marching with them.

March wooden soldiers

We are wooden soldiers
We march left and right.
We are the guardians of the fairy gates,
We protect them all year round.
We march clearly, bravo.
We are not afraid of obstacles.
We protect the town
Where the music lives!

While playing, children invent the most incredible stories. Looking at them, Pyotr Ilyich came up with his own story and told it to the children, but not just told it. This story fit into three plays, which the children heard.

The first story told about a girl Sashenka, who loved to play with her doll. But suddenly the doll got sick. The doll lies in the crib, complaining. Asks for a drink.

Doll disease

The girl is very sorry for her doll. Doctors are called to see her, but nothing helps. The doll is dead.

The play "The Doll's Illness" is followed by "The Doll's Funeral".

Everyone came to the funeral, all the toys. After all, they loved the doll so much! A small toy orchestra escorts a doll: The monkey plays the trumpet. Bunny is on the drum, and Mishka hits the timpani. Poor old Teddy bear, he was completely wet from tears.

Doll funeral

The doll was buried in the garden, next to rose bush and the whole grave was decorated with flowers. And then, one day, my father’s friend came to visit.

He had some kind of box in his hands.

- This is for you, Sasha! - he said.
“What is it?” Sashenka thought, burning with curiosity.

An acquaintance untied the ribbon, opened the lid and handed the box to the girl...

There lay beautiful doll. She had big ones blue eyes. When the doll was rocked, the eyes opened and closed. The pretty little mouth smiled at the girl. Light curly hair fell on the shoulders. And from under the velvet dress white stockings and black patent leather shoes were visible. A real beauty!

Sashenka looked at the doll and couldn’t get enough of it.

- Well. What are you doing? Take it, it’s yours,” said dad’s friend.

The girl reached over and took the doll out of the box. A feeling of joy and happiness overwhelmed her. The girl impulsively pressed the doll to her chest and spun around the room with it, as if in a waltz.

- What a joy to receive such a gift! - thought Sasha.

New doll

The petals have grown cold
Open lips, childishly moist, -
And the hall floats, floats in lingering
The melodies of happiness and melancholy.
The shine of chandeliers and the ripple of mirrors
Merged into one crystal mirage -
And the ballroom wind blows,
The warmth of the fragrant fans.

I. Bunin

Waltz

Mazurka

"I grew up in the wilderness, from childhood, very early, I was imbued inexplicable beauty characteristic features of Russian folk music"- wrote Tchaikovsky. The composer's childhood impressions, his love for folk song, the dance is reflected in three plays"Children's album": these are "Russian Song", "A Man Playing a Harmonica" and "Kamarinskaya".

Kamarinskaya

In Kamarinskaya the balalaika tune is imitated. And it was written in the form of variations, which is very characteristic of Russian music.

Genre: Piano miniature in C minor from the “Children's Album” cycle, op. Z9.

In music written for children, one feels careful attitude to the child’s experiences, understanding their depth and significance. Listening to this play, you pay attention to the seriousness and genuineness of feelings little hero, on the respect with which the composer treats the child’s personality.

It was no coincidence that Tchaikovsky gave the subtitle to his cycle – “In Imitation of Schumann.” This piece involuntarily recalls “The First Loss” from R. Schumann’s “Album for Youth.”

The play is permeated by the characteristic rhythm of a typical funeral march, but this feature does not make the play a truly funeral march. Sometimes in literature you can find a statement that here Tchaikovsky reproduced the sound of a choir. It seems to us that this music can be more easily imagined in an orchestral rather than a choral version. But be that as it may, both when performing and while listening to this play, you should not take everything too seriously. Still, the composer creates the impression of a funeral with sounds dolls: The element of play here should not disappear completely.

This one-page play is written as a three-part play (a favorite musical form P. Tchaikovsky in piano miniatures). If we imagine it in an orchestral sound, the outer (identical) parts are associated with wind instruments, while the music in the middle part could be performed by strings, for example, a string quartet.

Notes

1 Here comes a good opportunity to talk not only about the art of composing music and not only about the art of performing it, but also about the art of listening to it. Of course, no one has the right to prohibit the listener from having certain ideas and fantasies, but sometimes these fantasies are initially directed in the wrong direction. The 20th century, with its catastrophic world cataclysms, encourages - and this is quite natural - to look at many things in the past (and those that came from the past) through the prism of this human experience. As a result, this popular work like Haydn's Farewell Symphony, written as humorous or, to put it mildly, ironic, is perceived as tragic.

Capabilities young composer manifested itself in early age. Already from the age of 5, Tchaikovsky played the piano fluently. And at eight he began recording his first musical impressions.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky left behind him world fame as a composer and conductor. His life is completely devoted to playing music. More than 80 works were written by the composer. These are operas and ballets, symphonies and piano concertos, suites and string quartets.

Bright musical language possesses Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album". The content of the cycle resembles one day of a child, with his games and sorrows. The folklore nature of the material and the amazing melodies have made this cycle popular even today.

Tchaikovsky: "Children's Album". History of creation

The composer's intention for writing baby cycle can be dated to February 1878. Tchaikovsky was traveling abroad. In one of his letters to friends, he reports his desire to create a small collection of easy plays for children to perform. By analogy with Schumann's Album for Youth.

The opus was completely finished in May 1878. Musical numbers interconnected in small microcycles. Tchaikovsky hid the depth of the subtext and the difficult life period under melodic intonations. "Children's Album", the story of whose creation is connected with the family of the composer's sister, deserves to be called a masterpiece...

Davydov family

Alexandra Ilyinichna, her husband and children always rejoiced at Tchaikovsky’s arrival in their home. The village of Kamenka near Kyiv - family estate noble family Davydovs. Tchaikovsky's sister, married to Davydov, gladly received her brother in this large, cozy house.

Pyotr Ilyich devoted a lot of time to his sister’s children. He played and walked with them for a long time. He knew how to tell interesting stories about the countries he visited. He listened attentively to his nephews’ stories about their day or various events in their lives.

Alexandra Ilyinichna’s seven children filled the estate with cheerful laughter and cheerful games. Impressed by this friendly family and the "Children's Album" was written. It is dedicated by the author to his nephew, Volodya Davydov.

"Children's Album" by Tchaikovsky: contents

The program content of the cycle is arranged by the composer in a certain sequence. Art critics logically divide the opus into the morning, afternoon and evening of a child's day.

Games, songs, dances - Tchaikovsky's plays are simple and unpretentious. "Children's Album" is rightfully a source of inspiration for children's creativity. Poems and paintings, which are based on miniatures of the opus, develop children. Allows integration different kinds art, form a holistic perception of the world around us.

For some unknown reason, the order of the thumbnails has been changed. There are differences in the author's handwritten version and printed form. Most likely, the composer, Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich, did not attach importance to the minor rearrangements. Therefore, the “Children's Album” is printed with changes to this day.

Difficult period of life

During a difficult period in his life, Tchaikovsky created the “Children’s Album”. It all started with his marriage to Antonina Milyukova. She was a student at the conservatory and a big fan of the composer.

Their family life didn't work out. It's hard to say why. There are different versions on this matter. It is a known fact that Tchaikovsky wanted to commit suicide in connection with this unsuccessful marriage. His reluctance to live with this particular woman forced him to break off the relationship.

Tchaikovsky goes on a trip abroad for six months. It was there that the idea of writing an album for children came to him. The composer saw work and creativity as a way out of his mental crisis.

Two versions of "Children's Album"

There are two versions of the interpretation of “Children's Album”. Art critics are confident that the tragedy of some miniatures is directly related to the author’s difficult marital relationships.

First version. A typical day for a child - with his games, dancing, reading books and daydreaming.

Second version. She symbolizes human life. Awakening feelings and personality, thoughts about religion and God. and the joy of youth is replaced by the first losses and grief. Then there are whole years of wandering around different countries in the desire to restore the Return Home, thinking about the meaning of life and the equality of death. And in conclusion - repentance and summing up, reconciliation with oneself.

Numbers of the "Children's Album"

"Morning Prayer"
"Winter morning".
"Game of Horses"
"Mother".
"March of the Wooden Soldiers"
"Doll Disease"
"Doll's funeral"
"Waltz".
"New doll."
"Mazurka".
"Russian song".
“A man plays the harmonica.”
"Kamarinskaya".
"Polka".
"Italian song"
"An old French song."
"German song"
"Neapolitan Song"
"Nanny's Tale"
"Baba Yaga".
"Sweet Dream"
"Song of the Lark"
"The organ grinder is singing."
"In the church".

Morning cycle

The morning cycle consists of the plays “Morning Prayer”, “Winter Morning”, “Game of Horses”, “Mother”. Tchaikovsky wrote “Children's Album” under the impression of his many nephews. He conveyed their daily routine, games and fun in his essay.

"Morning Prayer". The day of adults and children began and ended with it. IN musical piece the composer used the melody of real church prayer. The intonational conversation of a child with God is imbued with purity and childlike spontaneity.

"Winter morning". The alarming music of a harsh, inhospitable winter sounds in the play. A foggy, cold morning gives way to plaintive intonations. It was as if a child looked out the window and saw small birds, ruffled from the frost.

"Horse Game". The play's mischievous melody conveys the joy of an awakened child, his desire to play and run. The composer accurately depicted the clatter of a toy horse's hooves. Fabulous obstacles and changes of scenery during the game are reflected in the rich harmony of the play.

"Mother". Tender, melodious miniature painting sincere feelings child and mother. Emotional experiences are reflected in flexible intonation. Music conveys communication with mother with melodious voice guidance. Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album" is imbued with rich nuances of harmonization and childhood experiences.

Daily cycle

The daily cycle consists of games and entertainment, dancing and songs. Energetic, full of fun plays give way to the first childhood losses and grief. Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album", the content of its daily cycle in particular, has a clear division into games of girls and boys, into songs different countries and dancing.

"March of the Wooden Soldiers". The clarity, lightness, and elasticity of the boy's play is reflected in the play. The composer draws a toy procession of soldiers or an entire army with a strict rhythmic pattern.

"Doll Disease". The girl's feelings about her sick doll are conveyed through amazing musical means. The play lacks melody integrity. She is constantly interrupted by pauses and sighs.

"Doll Funeral". A child's first grief is always deep and significant. The composer depicts sincere feelings and tears with respect for the tragedy and the personality of the child.

"Waltz". Children's experiences are quickly replaced by a cheerful, lively dance. Tchaikovsky conveys the feeling of a home holiday and general joy. “Children's Album” (waltz in particular) is filled with light chords and a melodious melody that draws you into the whirling dance.

"New Doll". The mood of the miniature is permeated with joy and happiness. The lively running, excited beating of the heart is conveyed by the music of the play. The fast-paced melody absorbed a whole range of feelings - delight, amazement, joy.

Songs and dances

This subsection of the daily cycle brings together Russian songs and ballroom dances of that time. They symbolize children's dreams, their conversations, walks in the village. Tchaikovsky's songs alternate with dances of different sounds. “Children's Album” conveys all the restlessness of childhood.

"Mazurka". The fast Polish dance was very popular among Russian composers. The mazurka is imbued with noisy, lively accents and rhythm. Tchaikovsky conceived the “Children’s Album” as a richness of a child’s inner experiences and actions. Therefore, even in the moving mazurka there is a slight transition to sadness and dreaminess.

"Russian song". Melody of the play - Russian arrangement folk song“Are you a head, my little head?” Tchaikovsky noted modal changes from major to minor as national peculiarity Russian songs and applied them in his processing.

"A man plays a harmonica". This play is a figurative scene from folk life. The cheerful understatement of the harmony creates the impression of an unlucky harmonica player. Variable repetitions add humor to the play.

"Kamarinskaya". This is a folk dance song with variations. Tchaikovsky managed to accurately convey the sound of bagpipes in a bass ostinato, the intonation of the violin and the chord strumming of the harmonica.

"Polka". Tchaikovsky used the playful Czech dance in the cycle. The polka from "Children's Album" is as easy as ballroom dance that time. The graceful motif depicts a girl in a smart dress and shoes dancing a graceful polka on her toes.

Songs of distant lands

This section is dedicated to songs from far abroad countries. The composer easily conveys the flavor of the countries. Tchaikovsky traveled a lot, he visited France and Italy, Turkey and Switzerland.

"Italian song". In it, Tchaikovsky accurately conveys the accompaniment of a guitar or mandolin, so beloved in Italy. An energetic, playful song reminiscent of a waltz. But there is no smoothness of dance in it, but there is southern liveliness and impetuosity.

"Old French Song". Sad folk motive sounds in the play. Brooding reverie was characteristic of medieval France with its minstrels. The piece resembles a minor ballad, restrained and soulful.

"German Song". A gallant and cheerful piece, the harmony of which resembles the sound of a barrel organ. The “German Song” contains yodel intonations. This style of singing songs is characteristic of the inhabitants of the Alps.

"Neapolitan Song". The sound is heard in this play. Naples is one of the cities of Italy. The energy of the rhythm and the liveliness of the melody convey the fervor of the southerners.

Evening cycle

The evening cycle is reminiscent of childhood fatigue after daytime fun. This is an evening fairy tale, dreams before bedtime. The “Children's Album” ends, just as it begins, with a prayer.

"Nanny's Tale". The composer draws fairy tale image, all imbued with unexpected pauses and accents. A bright, calm melody turns into anxiety and concern for the heroes of the fairy tale.

"Baba Yaga". Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album" conveys daydreaming and childhood fantasy. Baba Yaga in the play seems to be flying in a mortar to the whistle of the wind - the melody of the miniature is so sharp and abrupt. Moving forward and gradually moving away fairy tale character music conveys.

"Sweet Dream". And again the calm thoughtfulness of the melody, the beauty and simplicity of the sound of the miniature. Like a child looking out the window and composing his simple fairy tale in the evening twilight.

"The Lark's Song". Revitalization before going to bed and imagining the next, joyful morning. And with it - the singing of the lark with its trills and high register.

"The Organ Grinder Sings". The lingering sounds of the melody moving in a circle seem to symbolize the infinity of the movement of life. The psychologically complex musical image of the play is reminiscent of the non-childish thoughts in the head of the most ordinary child.

"In the church". The “Children's Album” begins and ends with a prayer. This arch means summing up the results of the day (evening) or the mood for good deeds(morning). In the composer's time, it was mandatory daily prayers. They thanked God for the day, asked for mercy and help in difficulties.

Cycle for children

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich became one of the first Russian composers to write a cycle piano pieces for children's performance. These are technically simple plays that a child can understand. The cycle consists entirely of entertaining musical miniatures.

Each play is a complete work. By playing miniatures from the cycle, the child solves various artistic and performance problems. Smoothness and melodiousness are replaced by a jerky march, the minor key of sadness is replaced by a joyful major.

Tchaikovsky's "Children's Album" consists of 24 pieces. The content of the cycle conveys the simplicity and richness of a child’s life. Sadness, fun, games, funny dances are built by the composer into a storyline.

Collaboration and creativity

Tchaikovsky's plays have been played in music schools and circles for more than a hundred years. The difference in their interpretations depends on musical image, which one or another performer puts into miniatures.

The bright dramaturgy of the album allows you to collaborate with the composer. After listening to the opus, children create paintings, poems, plays own composition. Creative process allows you to completely immerse yourself in the emotional and musical interpretation of “Children's Album”.

Dear readers, today I invite you to relax a little, fill yourself with beautiful music with your children and grandchildren. We will talk to you about the music of P.I. Tchaikovsky, about his “Children's Album”. I remember the time when I myself played many pieces from this amazing album. I also remember how, while working in music school, gave many works to children, I remember their response to these works. The music from this album is close, understandable and interesting to children. It’s as if they live their lives in music, recognize themselves, empathize with the characters, learn to think, and get to know the world.

On the pages of my blog I often appeal to you: introduce children to beauty from childhood. Listen good music, go with them to the Philharmonic, to concerts that will be close and understandable to them. This is very important point nurturing a sense of beauty in our children. And this is always important for the family. Discuss what you heard with your children, develop their horizons.

I hope that our small conversations on the blog will help you. Today, together with Lilia Shadkovsky, a reader of my blog, a music teacher with extensive experience working with children, we have prepared material in our section. I give the floor to Lilia and I’ll add a little to her article.

Good afternoon to all readers of Irina’s blog! Today we once again invite you, together with your children and grandchildren, to take a trip to fascinating world music of the great Russian composer P.I. Tchaikovsky, whose wonderful and poetic music is loved not only by adults, but it is understandable and interesting to children.

Flowers, music and children are the best decoration of life

P.I. Tchaikovsky loved children very much, subtly and sensitively understood their souls, felt their mood. He often said: “Flowers, music and children constitute the best decoration of life.”

Indeed, the children's theme runs through all of his work, and "Children's Album" became the first collection of plays for children in Russia, included in the gold fund of the world musical literature for children. It fit a whole children's country, Big world child, told in sounds.

The history of the creation of the “Children’s Album by P.I. Tchaikovsky”

One of the factors that determined the composer’s desire to write music for children was the example of Robert Schumann, whose fascinating pieces from “Album for Youth” were very much loved by both children and teachers.

Others are very important factor The creation of the “Children’s Album” was inspired by the unusually warm relationship with his sister’s children. He walked with them for a long time, played a lot, told them about his travels and incredible stories about the countries he had visited. And he always listened with great interest to children's stories about various events in their lives. An unusually tender and warm relationship with his nephews gave impetus to writing a children's album.

In March 1878, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky arrived at the estate of his sister Alexandra Ilyinichna Davydova. He fell into Kamenka unexpectedly, out of the blue, and created a joyful commotion. Alexandra Ilyinichna’s children gave him such a concert that he had to cover his ears. Again the house was filled with “sweet, heavenly” sounds. Pyotr Ilyich settled comfortably in his room and was already scribbling something at his desk. A few days later he let slip:

“Here, these birds,” he pointed to the children, “certainly want me to write “every last bit” in their album. I'll write, don't be afraid. I’ll write and we’ll play everything!

And he wrote for the “Children's Album” and played them with children. And Pyotr Ilyich also loved to listen to children play music. Listening to the play of little musicians, he often thought that there were not so many compositions intended for children.

To whom did Tchaikovsky dedicated his “Children’s Album”?

After the “Children's Album” was completed, Pyotr Ilyich decides to dedicate it to his beloved nephew.

“I dedicated this album to my nephew Volodya, who passionately loves music and promises to be a musician,” wrote Tchaikovsky in a letter to N.F. von Meck. And indeed, on the title page of the first edition it was written: “Dedicated to Volodya Davydov.”

We turn the pages music collection and one after another we see pictures from the lives of children. How many events interesting stories and accidents!

Here funny Games and grief, entertaining tales and pictures of Russian life, as well as sketches of Russian nature. I think that you will also be interested in experiencing the special spirit of that time through Tchaikovsky’s music, finding out how children lived then, what surrounded them, how they spent their time?

Look at the contents of the album. The titles of the plays will immediately tell you a lot.

"Children's Album" by Tchaikovsky. Content

The “Children's Album” includes the following plays:

Morning prayer
Winter morning
Horse game
March of the Wooden Soldiers
Doll disease
Doll funeral
Waltz
New doll
Mazurka
Russian song
A man plays the harmonica
Kamarinskaya
Polka
Italian song
An old French song
German song
Neapolitan song
Nanny's fairy tale
Baba Yaga
Sweet dream
The lark's song
The organ grinder sings
In the church

Let's walk through the pages of the "Children's Album" and listen to musical sketches and plays, some of which are probably already familiar to you. The collection contains 24 plays, where several plot lines are visible. We will listen to some of them.

Morning prayer

First story line associated with the child waking up and starting the day. The day in the family began and ended with prayer. We invite you to listen to “Morning Prayer,” whose bright and lyrical intonations are full of sublime peace and contemplation. This is a kind of reflection about God, about the soul. Surely the children were motivated to do good deeds and deeds by reciting the texts of the prayers. Let's listen to it with the children.

Winter morning

With his special compositional techniques, P.I. Tchaikovsky conveyed the poetic atmosphere of a winter morning. Swift and prickly, alarming and unfriendly. On such a morning, you want to sit at home in the warmth, read a book or just cuddle up to your mother, bury yourself in her warm palms...Remember the lines of F. Tyutchev with your children.

Enchantress in Winter
Bewitched, the forest stands -
And under the snow fringe,
motionless, mute,
Wonderful life it shines.

And he stands, bewitched, -
Not dead and not alive -
Enchanted by a magical dream,
All entangled, all shackled
Light chain down...

Is the winter sun shining
On him your ray with a scythe -
Nothing will tremble in him,
It will all flare up and sparkle
Dazzling beauty.

F. Tyutchev conveys a peaceful state winter nature, plunged into a magical sleep with the help of figurative metaphors. In the rays of the morning sun, it really looks like a real fairy-tale kingdom! And here is the music itself. Listening to “Winter Morning” from Tchaikovsky’s “Children’s Album”.

Mother

Extraordinarily touching sounds of peace and tranquility. Immediately before us stands the bright image of the mother and everything connected with eternal symbol motherhood. We feel her gentle hands, hear her gentle voice, feel protection and friendly support, seeing her calm gaze.

These were probably Pyotr Ilyich’s memories of his mother, whom he loved immensely. No wonder all his life he remembered her extraordinary eyes. Let's listen to the play "Mama" from the children's album of P.I. Tchaikovsky.

Horse game

But now the emotional experiences are replaced by mischievous, cheerful melodies of the second storyline. We are immersed in unbridled fun, laughter and joy. Children didn’t have cars or airplanes during Tchaikovsky’s time, so for any boy of that time - tin soldiers, a drum or a toy horse was a source of special pride. Listen to how unusual the music of the play “The Horse Game” sounds.

March of the Wooden Soldiers

But “March of the Wooden Soldiers” sounds cheerfully and solemnly - one of the most popular children's plays. You listen and imagine how a whole army of wooden soldiers are marching to this music. I think that your kids also wanted to pick up the drum and walk proudly, like a real brave soldier, marking every step.

Doll disease. Funeral of a doll. New doll

And then (especially for girls) topics with a doll will be interesting. Three plays are associated with it. The doll gets sick. The girl is very sorry for her doll. Doctors are called to see her, but nothing helps. The doll is dead. Everyone came to the funeral, all the toys. After all, they loved the doll so much! A small toy orchestra escorts a doll: The monkey plays the trumpet. Bunny is on the drum, and Mishka hits the timpani. Poor old teddy bear, he was completely wet from tears.

The doll was buried in the garden, next to a rose bush, and the entire grave was decorated with flowers. And then one day, my father’s friend came to visit. He had some kind of box in his hands.

- This is for you, Sasha! - he said.

“What is it?” Sashenka thought, burning with curiosity.

The friend untied the ribbon, opened the lid and handed the box to the girl. There lay a beautiful doll. She had big blue eyes. When the doll was rocked, the eyes opened and closed. The pretty little mouth smiled at the girl. Blonde curly hair fell on her shoulders. And from under the velvet dress white stockings and black patent leather shoes were visible. A real beauty! Sashenka looked at the doll and couldn’t get enough of it.

- Well. What are you doing? Take it, it’s yours,” said dad’s friend.

- What a joy to receive such a gift! – thought Sasha. Let's listen to the play "New Doll" from the "Children's Album".

Sweet dream

One of my favorite pieces from the Children's Album is “Sweet Dream”. A daydream is a dream, a tremulous state of mind, the contemplation of something unusual and sublime. I think that there are no people who would not dream of something secret. Talk to the children, ask what they dream about.

Nanny's fairy tale

As in those distant times, a day full of different impressions ends with a good good fairy tale. With bated breath, kids listen to their favorite fairy tales, sincerely worrying about their favorite characters.

“Nanny's Tale” has an intricate rhythmic pattern that creates an atmosphere of fairy-tale and anxiety. And what kind of stories do children suggest when listening to the play “Nanny’s Tales”? That’s where there is room for children’s fantasies to fly! Let's listen to this music too.

Songs of distant lands

The following storyline is represented by “Old French Song”, “German Song”, “Italian Song”. Each of the plays reflects the characteristics of folk music of these countries. It is known that Pyotr Ilyich traveled a lot, and he embodied his impressions in music. So you and I will do something exciting musical journey and try to understand the features of folk music and the flavor of these countries.

German song

"German Song" from the "Children's Album" resembles the sound of a barrel organ and is very similar to the old german dance lander, which the peasants danced, with whirling and stomping in their wooden shoes

Neapolitan song

"Neapolitan song" is one of the most popular and most bright plays"Children's Album", reflecting the cheerful Italian carnival. Peter Ilyich based on this play created “Neapolitan dance for the ballet” Swan Lake».

Tchaikovsky's music, like Pushkin's poetry, comes to us in childhood and remains with us for life. Peter Ilyich left us beautiful things musical heritage– this is our culture, this is our art, without which there cannot be a worthy future.

Did you know that:

"Children's Album" was written in May 1878. The history of its creation is inextricably linked with Kamenka, a small Ukrainian village near Kyiv. Kamenka is the family nest of the large Davydov family Lev Vasilyevich Davydov himself was a great friend of Tchaikovsky and the husband of his beloved sister Alexandra Ilyinichna. Kamenka was the composer’s favorite place, where he worked and rested with inspiration. Tchaikovsky called this unusually picturesque place a “radiant land.” Here's yours free time he spent time among the children, watched their games, listened to their children's stories. It was the unusually tender and warm relationship with his nephews that gave impetus to the writing of “Children’s Album.”
The creation of the “Children's Album” was preceded by a long communication with Kolya Conradi, a deaf-mute student of P. I. Tchaikovsky. It was with him and with their brother that they spent part of the time from 1877-1978.
3. The idea of dedicating the “Children’s Album” to Volodya Davydov obviously arose after finishing the composition. Tchaikovsky spent quite a lot of time with his nephew in the summer of 1878 in Kamenka.
Even later, in 1878, from Florence he wrote to L.V. Davydov, his sister’s husband: “Tell Bobik that the notes with pictures were printed, that the notes were composed by Uncle Petya, and what is written on them: dedicated to Volodya Davydov. He's stupid and won't understand what it means to be dedicated! And I’ll write to Jurgenson to send a copy to Kamenka.

This is the journey we took today, dear readers. I hope it was interesting to you and your children.

Sharko's shower

3. “Children’s Album” by P. I. Tchaikovsky

The novelty and originality of Schumann's Album for Youth awakened the imagination of many composers.

In April 1878, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote to his friend and admirer:

I’ve been thinking for a long time that it wouldn’t hurt to contribute as much as I can to enriching children’s musical literature, which is very poor. I want to do whole line small passages of unconditional ease with titles tempting for children, like Schumann.

The immediate impetus for the creation of the “Children’s Album” was Tchaikovsky’s communication with his little nephew Volodya Davydov, to whom this collection, consisting of 24 easy pieces and published in October 1878, is dedicated. It is interesting that on the cover of the first edition it is marked in parentheses: “Imitation of Schumann.”

You have already encountered pieces from Tchaikovsky’s “Children’s Album” many times in your music literature lessons. And some of you knew them in piano class too.

Let's go through the pages of the "Children's Album" and at the same time remember the plays that we have already encountered.

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In addition to links to the examples given earlier, each piece can be listened to in its entirety using the button on the left. Performed by Y. Flier.

"Morning Prayer" See analysis and example in topic 6.
"Winter morning". A musical sketch with “prickly”, “frosty” harmony.
"Game of Horses" A fast-paced piece with non-stop movement of eighth notes.
"Mother". Lyrical portrait.
March of wooden soldiers. Toy march (see example 53 in topic 2).
"Doll Disease" Sad music about the very sincere experiences of a girl who takes her game seriously. Or maybe your favorite doll is really hopelessly broken.
"Doll's funeral" Funeral march.
Waltz. See about it in topic 5 and topic 6 (section 3 and section 6).
"New doll." The piece, sounding in one impulse, expresses the girl’s unbridled joy.
Mazurka. Dance miniature in the mazurka genre.
Russian song. See analysis and example in topic 6.
“A man plays the harmonica.”

Let’s take a closer look at this original miniature. Perhaps Tchaikovsky accidentally heard the unlucky accordion player trying to pick something up, but he just couldn’t do it. With great humor, the composer depicted this episode in a tiny play.

Example 102

First, the same little phrase is repeated four times. Then, twice, the accordion player again begins her first motive, but stops, fingering two chords in some bewilderment. Apparently, one of them (the dominant seventh chord) struck his imagination too much, and he enchantedly opens and closes the bellows, clutching this chord with his fingers.

When you press one key on the left keyboard, many harmonicas sound not just one note, but an entire chord: tonic, dominant or subdominant. Therefore, imitating inept harmonica playing, Tchaikovsky uses a chord structure. The key of B-flat major is also not accidental. Most harmonicas are tuned in this particular scale (unlike the button accordion and accordion, you cannot play either chromatic scale, nor music in different keys).

Here we saw another type of picture programming onomatopoeic. Such an imitation musical instruments is quite rare. More often, composers use onomatopoeia to depict natural noises or birdsong. A similar example also appears in the “Children’s Album,” and we will get to it soon.

"Kamarinskaya". Figurative variations on a famous Russian dance melody.
Polka. Dance miniature in the polka genre (see example 150 in topic 5).
Italian song. The composer's memories of Italy. Tchaikovsky heard the melody in the chorus of this song in Milan performed by a small street singer.
An old French song. See analysis and example in topic 6.
German song.

By general character This piece is reminiscent of the old German Ländler dance (a slightly slower and rougher waltz). And some characteristic melodic turns make one remember another genre yodel, a peculiar song of the Alpine mountaineers. Regular singing with words is interspersed in yodels with vocalizations depicting instrumental strumming. These vocalises are performed in a distinctive manner with frequent wide leaps, distributed over the sounds of the chords. The melody of the first section of the German Song is very similar to a yodel:

Example 103

Very moderate

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And here is the traditional German (Tyrolean) yodel in a modern version.

Neapolitan song. See analysis and example in topic 6.
"Nanny's Tale"

Although Tchaikovsky does not tell us what kind of tale the nanny is telling, and we do not know its plot, we can hear that the music speaks of some kind of adventure.

The beginning sounds mysterious, “prickly” chords are interrupted by mysterious pauses. The second sentence begins secretly, an octave lower, then all the voices rapidly fly up, and in the cadence itself something new and unexpected suddenly happens.

Example 104

Moderately

And then something terrible happened. Throughout the middle section in right hand repeats with increasing intensity in two waves crescendo same sound before, as if saying: “Oh-oh! Oh-oh!..” And in the left hand the rustling of chromatic thirds in a “frightening” low register trembles.

Example 105

When just before the reprise before goes into re, we feel this event as the culmination of a terrible fairy tale. But immediately a calm sets in: the reprise is completely accurate, and when we hear the familiar music again, it no longer seems as mysterious and “prickly” as it seemed at first. A scary fairy tale has a happy and kind ending.

"Baba Yaga". Another good-natured “horror story”, a picture of the swift flight of an evil witch on a broom.
"Sweet Dream" Lyrical play. Although it has a name, it is not a software miniature. The image of a bright dream, which is given in music, can be filled with any suitable content. Or you can just listen and enjoy.
Song of the lark.

As in the play “A Man Plays a Harmonica,” there is onomatopoeia here. But the image is born completely different. Not funny, but lyrical. In one of his letters, Tchaikovsky wrote: How I love it when streams of melting snow flow through the streets and you feel something life-giving and invigorating in the air! With what love you greet the first green grass, how you rejoice at the arrival of the rooks, followed by the larks and other overseas summer guests!

Birds have been singing for a long time musical art was associated with images of spring, the gentle sun, the awakening of nature. Remember the symbolic figures of larks in spring folk rituals.

And besides, songbirds have amazed people since time immemorial with the ingenuity and variety of their trills. The musicians also have a lot to learn from them.

In the Song of the Lark we hear both sunny, spring joy and an unusual variety of “bird” passages in a high register.

The play is written in a simple three-part form. From the very first bars you can feel both “streams of melting snow” and “something life-giving and invigorating” spilled in the spring air. And above this sunny picture somewhere high, high a lark is pouring.

Example 106

Moderately

In the middle section, which begins hidden pp , the composer seems to listen to the singing of the lark and lets us hear more and more new twists and turns of this song.

Example 107

After a precise reprise, in a small coda, we hear another “knee” of the lark

"The organ grinder is singing." See analysis and example in topic 6.
"In the church".

The child's day began and ended with prayer. And if “Morning Prayer” is an introduction to the pictures, images and impressions that fill a child’s day, then the play “In Church” is a farewell to another day. Sings strictly and harmoniously church choir at the evening service, in the soft “speaking” intonations of the first phrases you can hear: “Lord, have mercy.”

Example 108

Moderately

These four phrases, forming a period of free construction, are repeated again, but louder and louder: the singing expands and grows.

But here are the last, fading phrases of the choir and a huge coda, which occupies half of the entire piece: a long farewell, in which one can hear the measured and slightly sad sound of the viscous evening church bells

Example 109

If Schumann's pieces were arranged in increasing complexity, then Tchaikovsky's very easy ones can coexist with quite difficult ones. When arranging the pieces in the album, Tchaikovsky was guided by their figurative content.

All genre play scenes “Game of Horses”, March of the Wooden Soldiers, “Doll’s Illness”, “Funeral of a Doll”, “New Doll” are concentrated in the first half of the collection.

In the middle there is a small Russian “suite”: Russian song, “A man playing a harmonica” and “Kamarinskaya”.

Then comes the “travel suite” - songs from different countries, times and cities: Italian, Old French, German and Neapolitan.

Then a section on fairy tales: “Nanny’s Tale” and “Baba Yaga”.

Lyrical plays and dances create the necessary contrast or relieve tension. “Mama” sets off “The Horse Game” and the March of the Wooden Soldiers. The waltz softens the transition from inconsolable grief (“Funeral of a Doll”) to stormy joy (“New Doll”). Mazurka and Polka original “breaks” between the “Russian” and “European” sections. “Sweet Dream” “ lyrical digression" after scary tales. One more “lyrical digression” just before farewell - the play “The Organ Grinder Sings.”

Two nature paintings “Winter Morning” and The Lark’s Song are located one almost at the very beginning, and the other closer to the end.

Finally, an introduction and conclusion related to church music: “Morning Prayer” and “At Church.”

This grouping of plays makes Tchaikovsky’s “Children’s Album” a surprisingly harmonious work - not just a collection of plays, but big suite, which is interesting and not tiring to listen to in a row from beginning to end.

Tchaikovsky pushes the boundaries of children's music. In the plays Russian Song, “Kamarinskaya”, Italian Song, Ancient French Song, Neapolitan Song, “The Organ Grinder Sings”, he introduces little musicians to folk melodies different countries. And the music of some plays can also be heard in Tchaikovsky’s “adult” works. Thus, the Neapolitan song came to the album from the ballet “Swan Lake”, the Ancient French song turned into the Minstrel Song in the opera “The Maid of Orleans”, the melody of the play “The Organ Grinder Sings” sounded again in the piano miniature “Interrupted Dreams”, and the intonations of “Sweet Dream” unexpectedly appeared in the Scene in the Spruce Forest from the ballet “The Nutcracker”.