This is yet another composition from Tchaikovsky’s student days, written at age 25. He wrote and scored it for a small student orchestra in 1865 and revised it at the beginning of 1866. The addition of more brass is huge, and Tchaikovsky without trombones is simply missing something really important.
Moderato assai – Allegro con spirito
Revised version instruments:
- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons
- *4 horns (in F), 2 trumpet (in F), 3 trombones.
- 2 timpani
- strings
The revised version greatly expanded the role of the brass.
Veronika Dudarova, original version
Andante – Allegro molto
Original version instruments:
- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B-flat), 2 bassoons
- horn (in F), trumpet (in F)
- 2 timpani
- strings
Duration…
Original version: Andante – Allegro molto (F major, 377 bars), approximate duration 7 minutes.
Revised version: Moderato assai – Allegro con spirito (F major, 687 bars), approximate duration 11-12 minutes.
Composition:
It seems to have been written as a student assignment and could possibly have been written at Kamenka the previous summer, at around the same time as the Overture in C minor.
The revised version of this overture was apparently commissioned by Nikolai Rubinstein for a concert of the Russian Musical Society in Moscow. This seems to be referred to in a letter of February 1866 from Tchaikovsky to his brother Modest:
“Rubinstein has tasked me with some very important work, which I want to finish by the third week of Lent.”
For once apparently Nicolai was supportive of Tchaikovsky.
Revision…
Tchaikovsky greatly extended its introduction and development section, rewrote the transitions in the exposition and recapitulation, and substituted a completely new coda. Then he added more brass players.
Performances…
The overture in its original version was performed for the first time on 27 November/9 December 1865 at the 18th conservatory student orchestra concert in the hall of the Mikhailovsky Palace in Saint Petersburg, conducted by the composer. This was Tchaikovsky’s first public appearance as a conductor.
The second version of the overture was first performed on 4/16 March 1866, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein, at an special concert of the Russian Musical Society in Moscow. In Saint Petersburg, this version was performed for the first time on 1/13 May 1866, conducted by Anton Rubinstein, at a charity concert in the hall of the Mikhaylovsky Palace.
In this instance Tchaikovsky actually got support from both the Rubinstein brothers.
Publication…
Both versions were published for the first time in volume 21 of Tchaikovsky’s Complete Collected Works, edited by Pavel Lamm in 1952, and once again I do not understand the delay. It is unlikely that anyone heard this overture until the latter part of the 20th century.