Composer: Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Tchaikovsky remains one of the most popular Western composers since his death.
Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840, in Russia. He first began playing piano when he was five years old. Music education was not available in Russian institutions at that time so, at age 10, he entered the prestigious Imperial School of Jurisprudence in St. Petersburg, a boarding institution for young boys. When he was 21, Tchaikovsky had the opportunity to take music lessons at the Russian Musical Society. A few months later, he enrolled at the newly founded St. Petersburg Conservatory, becoming one of the school's first composition students.
in 1865, Tchaikovsky’s work was first publicly performed. His first symphony was well-received after it was performed in Moscow. He established himself with his many symphonies, operas, and ballets. Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker are classic ballet all composed by Tchaikovsky.
The Imperial Theatre Director, Ivan Vsevolzhsky approached Tchaikovsky in 1888 to discuss a new ballet. He agreed and worked closely with choreographer, Marius Petipa to produce a three-act ballet within 40 days.
Tchaikovsky thought The Sleeping Beauty his finest ballet score. He and Petipa, were disappointed at the reaction of the Russian court to a dress rehearsal of the ballet given two nights before its first public performance. Tchaikovsky died before his work became, with Swan Lake, the most popular works in the Russian repertory. According to Balanchine, those who give themselves up to the music of Sleeping Beauty are transported from reality into the magic world of fairy tales.
Instrumentation
The ballet is scored for a large orchestra comprising piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets (in A, B-flat), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in F), 2 cornets (in A, B-flat), 2 trumpets (in A, B-flat), 3 trombones, tuba + 3 timpani, triangle, tambourine, military drum, cymbals, bass drum, tam tam, glockenspiel, piano + harp, violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses.
Source: "The Sleeping Beauty." Tchaikovsky Research. 5 Dec 2019, <http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=The_Sleeping_Beauty&oldid=72728>.
The Orchestra is led by the conductor and plays in the pit. The pit is located in a lowered area in front of the stage.
