Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

Classical Music / Orchestral

Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was composed between May and August 1888 and was first performed in St Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theatre on November 17 of that year with Tchaikovsky conducting. It is dedicated to Theodor Avé-Lallemant. 

The fifth symphony was composed in 1888, between the Manfred Symphony of 1885 and the sketches for a Symphony in E-flat, which were abandoned in 1892 (apart from recuperating material from its first movement for an Allegro Brillante for piano and orchestra a year later). As for the numbered symphonies, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 was composed between Symphony No. 4, which had been completed ten years earlier, and Symphony No. 6, composed 5 years later, in the year of the composer's death. 

Watch on YouTube (for reason of copyright infringement) --->  Here

Also highly suggested listening pleasure: 

TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony no. 6 (Pathétique) - Herbert von Karajan & Wiener Philharmonic. YouTube, uploaded by PermafrostIndustries. Accesed January 12, 2019.

Instrumentation.  Symphony No. 5 is scored for 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in A, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, and strings.

Structure.  Like the Symphony No. 4, No. 5 is a cyclical symphony, with a recurring main theme. Unlike No. 4, the theme is heard in all four movements, a feature Tchaikovsky had first used in the Manfred Symphony, which was completed less than three years before No. 5.

The symphony is in four movements:

1. Andante – Allegro con anima (E minor) – Molto più tranquillo (D major – E major)
2. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza (B minor – D major) – Non allegro (F♯ minor) – Andante maestoso con piano (D major)
3. Valse. Allegro moderato (A major) (Trio in F♯ minor)
4. Finale: Andante maestoso (E major) – Allegro vivace – Molto vivace (E minor) – Moderato assai e molto maestoso – Presto (E major)

The symphony's recurring main theme is used as a device to unify the four movements of the symphony. This motto theme, sometimes dubbed "Fate theme", has a funereal character in the first movement, but gradually transforms into a triumphant march, which dominates the final movement. A typical performance of the symphony lasts somewhat less than 50 minutes.

Program. Symphony No. 5 has no clear program. On 15 April 1888, about a month before he began composing the symphony, the composer sketched a scenario for its first movement in his notebook, containing "... a complete resignation before fate, which is the same as the inscrutable predestination of fate ..." It is however uncertain how much of this program has been realised in the composition.

Video  Resource: 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 (Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Valery Gergiev). From the Salle Pleyel in Paris, 2010 All six Tchaikovsky Symphonies with Valery Gergiev conducting the Mariinsky Orchestra. Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Valery Gergiev - conductor. YouTube, uploaded by WocomoMusic. Accessed February 19, 2021.

0:00​ Intro 

1:05​ I. Andante: Allegro con anima

17:48​ II. Andante cantabile con alguna licenza

33:50​ III. Valse. Allegro moderato 

39:42​ IV. Finale. Andante maestoso. Allegro vivace (Alla breve). 

Text Resource:

Symphony No. 5 (Tchaikovsky). en.wikipedia.org. 

 

(c) November 2011. Updated Feb 20, 2022. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.