زندگی پر اضطراب چایکوفسکی

Master Musicians Series

by Herbert Weinstock, محمد مجلسی

A giant in the pantheon of 19th century composers, Tchaikovsky continues to enthrall audiences today. From the Nutcracker--arguably the most popular ballet currently on the boards--Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty, to Eugene Onegin and Pique Dame, to the Symphony Pathetique and the always rousing, canon-blasting 1812 Overture--this prolific and beloved composer's works are perennial favorites. Now, John Wiley, a renowned Tchaikovsky scholar, provides a fresh biography aimed in classic Master Musicians style at the student and music lover. Wiley deftly draws on documents from imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet era sources, providing a more balanced look at recent controversies surrounding the marriage, death, and sexuality of the composer. The author dovetails the biographical material with separate chapters that treat the music thoroughly and fully, work-by-work, with more substantial explorations of Tchaikovsky's most familiar compositions. These analyses present new, even iconoclastic perspectives on the music and the composer's intent and expression. Several informative appendices, in the Master Musicians format, include an exhaustive list of works and bibliography.

Genres: Music, History, Biography, Nonfiction

469 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

1905-1971

Reviews

[lewisian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here you find Tchaikovsky, falling for people, trying (?) to repent of his spendthrift ways, and obviously, composing—Wiley does an excellent job weaving through Tchaikovsky’s music with his life, and I learnt so much from his critical music analysis. Good amount of Tchaikovsky lore, myths refuted, but going in-depth in an academic-gossipy way that kept me up at night reading. And I don’t care what people say, the Fifth is his best work, latter movements included. To all music lovers and Tchaikovsky stans—this book’s for you.

[مهرداد · Rating 5 out of 5]

چه سعادتی بالاتر از این که سال ها و دهه ها و سده ها در اندوه و شادی میلیون ها انسان سهیم باشی و آن ها تو را محرم پنهان ترین رازهای مکنون قلب خویش بشمارند؟ چه سعادتی بالاتر از این که با موسیقی خود قلب و روح میلیون ها انسان را تسخیر کنی، از شادی و روشنی مالامال سازی، و به آن ها آرامش و بهجت ببخشی؟ این وظیفه ای بود که تاریخ هنر بر عهدهیتر ایلیچ چایکوفسکی گذاشته بود و این سعادتی شیرین بود که سرنوشت نصیب او کرده بود.

[Juliet Ezati · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like it.

[Bradley Roth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed the author spent as much or more time talking about Tchaikovsky's minor works, and didn't focus much on those famous pieces we are all familiar with. Also, his way of alternating chapters about Tchaikovsky's life with chapters about his music made for a lot of repetition.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography and study of his music. The musical analysis is a little thick at times for a casual reader, but the insight into Tchaikovsky's personal history is thoughtful and original.

[Trifles Minutiae]

No rating because I wasn't reading this for enjoyment anyway.

[Grant Topjon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A significant figure in the Romantic Era, Roland John Wiley does a great job with this book.