First Symphony Winter Dreams

Symphonic music, along with the opera, was the main area of Tchaikovsky. Symphony composer considered the highest form of music that can most fully reflect the state of the human soul.

First Symphony "Winter Dreams" (G minor) was written in 1866. Its content is inspired by the classic images of Russian art - paintings of nature and winter roads, which are closely related thoughts and most intimate feelings. Many of the topics have a symphony song character and tonally similar Russian folk music.

The first part
"Dreams of Winter Road" - written in sonata form. The top lot is built on two contrasting themes and has a three-part form. first theme, lyric and song sounds the flute and bassoon two octaves amid quiet tremolo violins.

The second theme of the main party is different from the first purely instrumental in nature, rather dry, prickly, and is based on a descending chromatic motive.
Both topics are actively developing and powerful reach a dramatic climax. Adverse party - bright broad melody in the solo clarinet, his intonations, modal variables, rich podgolosochnym development is close to national lyrical song.

Final Party has a popular and dance sounds in nature and wind instruments. Her topic chord passes directly in production. Here the leading role gets first subject of the main party, which is due to the active development takes heroic image. Its climax emphasizes fanfare sounding pipes and horns.

The top lot is now excitedly and bright sound the strings, and after incidental and final games begin detailed dramatic code, which continues to develop the main theme of the party. But by the end of music codes tension weakens, and the first part ends with a return to the first theme of the main party in her original statement

The second part
"Moody edge, misty land" - written under the influence of Tchaikovsky trip to the island of Valaam on Lake Ladoga and the impact of strict northern beauty of Russian nature. Adagio cantabile framed restrained poetic introduction and conclusion.

The second part of the symphony serves as a refrain. Music is born out of both episodes of one of the reasons is the refrain and its immediate sequel. The second holding chorus sounds in cellos. The culmination of the third part is carrying the main theme, which it sounds like a French Horn in a new bright and dramatic

Third
Written in a complex three-part form. In extreme sections fragile, transparent, swift theme returns to the winter form the first part of the symphony.
In Trio appears soulful lyrical waltz, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere - the first waltz Tchaikovsky symphony music

Gradually, the sound becomes more stressful, anxiety penetrated the code Scherzo, where the theme of the waltz in a minor sounds sad amid restless and capricious rhythm of the first theme, executable timpani. If the music of the first three movements of the symphony is associated with the inner world of man and lyrical imagery, the grand finale draws a picture of a national holiday.

Gradually the character of the music brightens, and sonata allegro begins swinging a bit ponderous main party.
Adverse party is based on already heard in the introduction of folk tunes, here she gets daring dance-character. In the development of both themes are developing vigorously with polyphonic techniques. Reprise reduced - there is no adverse party. Completed the final large coda.

First Symphony has become one of the best works of Tchaikovsky Moscow period. It first appeared in a characteristic way, compositional techniques and features musical thinking of the great composer.