Capriccio Italien

The Capriccio Italien, Op. 45, is a fantasy for orchestra composed between January and May 1880 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The Capriccio was inspired by a trip Tchaikovsky took to Rome, during which he saw the Carnival in full swing, and is reminiscent of Italian folk music and street songs.^[1] As these elements are treated rather freely initially he intended this piece to be called Italian Fantasia.^[2] Tchaikovsky even uses as the introduction a bugle call that he overheard from his hotel played by Italian cavalry regiment. Another source of inspiration for this piece are Mikhail Glinka's Spanish Pieces.

The premiere was held in Moscow on December 18 of the same year; the orchestra was led by Nikolai Rubinstein. Although Tchaikovsky wrote to his patroness Nadezhda von Meck that the work would be successful (the piece was praised by most critics)^{[citation needed]} by the time he came to orchestrate the work he expressed doubts about its musical substance.^[3]

Dedicated to Karl Davydov, the Capriccio was later arranged by the composer for 4-hand piano.^{[citation needed]} A typical performance lasts for around 15 minutes.^{[citation needed]}

The middle part was used by Freddy Breck for his schlager "Bianca".^{[citation needed]}

Instrumentation

The Capriccio is scored for 3 flutes (3rd doubling on piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 cornets in A, 2 trumpets in E, 3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass), tuba, 3 timpani, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, glockenspiel, harp and strings.

Notes and references

• Brown, David. Tchaikovsky: The Years of Wandering, 1878–85. London: Gollancz, 1986

External links

• Capriccio Italien: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Tchaikovsky Research

v t e Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Operas The Voyevoda Undina The Oprichnik Vakula the Smith Eugene Onegin The Maid of Orleans Mazepa (or Mazeppa) Cherevichki The Enchantress The Queen of Spades Iolanta Ballets Swan Lake The Sleeping Beauty The Nutcracker Symphonies No. 1 in G minor ("Winter Daydreams") No. 2 in C minor ("Little Russian") No. 3 in D major ("Polish") No. 4 in F minor Symphony in B minor ("Manfred") No. 5 in E minor No. 6 in B minor ("Pathétique") No. 7 in E♭ major (unfinished) Concertos Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major Piano Concerto No. 3 in E♭ major Concert Fantasia Andante and Finale Sérénade mélancolique Valse-Scherzo Violin Concerto in D major Variations on a Rococo Theme Pezzo capriccioso Cello Concerto Orchestra works Romeo and Juliet The Tempest Hamlet Capriccio Italien Francesca da Rimini The Storm Fatum The Voyevoda 1812 Overture Marche Slave Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem Festival Coronation March Orchestral Suite No. 1 in D minor Orchestral Suite No. 2 in C major Orchestral Suite No. 3 in G major Orchestral Suite No. 4 in G major ("Mozartiana") Serenade for Strings Vocal music Liturgy of St John Chrysostom All-Night Vigil Moscow Chamber music Quartet Movement in B♭ major String Quartet No. 1 in D major String Quartet No. 2 in F major String Quartet No. 3 in E♭ minor Souvenir d'un lieu cher Piano Trio in A minor String Sextet in D minor (Souvenir de Florence) Piano music Scherzo à la russe Souvenir de Hapsal The Seasons (Les saisons) Piano Sonata No. 2 in C♯ minor Grand Piano Sonata in G major Related articles List of compositions Musical style Operas Symphonies Biography Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Five Vladimir Davydov Antonina Miliukova Nadezhda von Meck Belyayev circle Death Book:Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Category:Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Portal:Classical music