Souvenir de Florence

	Allegretto corto moderato The third movement of "Souvenir de Florence", played by the United States Army Band
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The String Sextet in D minor "Souvenir de Florence", Op. 70, is a string sextet scored for 2 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos composed in the European summer of 1890 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky dedicated the work to the St. Petersburg Chamber Music Society in response to his becoming an Honorary Member. The work, in the traditional four-movement form, was titled "Souvenir de Florence" because the composer sketched one of the work's principal themes while visiting Florence, Italy, where he composed The Queen of Spades. The work was revised between December 1891 and January 1892, before being premiered in 1892.

Structure

• I. Allegro con spirito (D minor, approx. 10:00)
• II. Adagio cantabile e con moto (D major, approx. 11:00)
• III. Allegretto moderato (A minor, approx. 6:00)
• IV. Allegro con brio e vivace (D minor, approx. 7:00)

Analysis

The first movement is in sonata form and, without introduction, presents a rather violent yet melodic first theme in D minor. The second theme, in the dominant major key of A major, is much calmer; it flows from the first theme almost effortlessly and then proceeds into the development and recapitulation, which concludes with a quick coda.

The slow movement, in D major, has a very innocent, romantic theme initially stated by the first violin with pizzicato accompaniment before being taken up by the cello. Following interruption by an interlude for all of the instruments, the theme returns for a repeat of the first section.

The last two movements, with their distinctly Russian and folk-like melodies and rhythms, greatly contrast with the previous ones.

Arrangements

This work has also been arranged for string orchestra.

Excerpts from the score were used in the 2005 ballet Anna Karenina, choreographed by Boris Eifman.

External links

• Souvenir de Florence: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Tchaikovsky Research
• Recording by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format

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