Tchaikovsky: 6 Pieces, Op.51

Introduction

Tchaikovsky wrote his Six Pieces (Six morceaux) for solo piano, Op. 51 (TH 143 ; ČW 175 to 180) , in August and September 1882.

Movements and Duration

1. Valse de salon
   Allegro (A-flat major, 342 bars).
2. Polka peu dansante
   Allegro moderato (B minor, 183 bars).
3. Menuetto scherzoso
   Moderato assai (E-flat major, 203 bars).
4. Natha-Valse
   Moderato (A major, 173 bars) .
5. Romance
   Andante cantabile (F major, 124 bars).
6. Valse sentimentale
   Tempo di Valse (F minor, 201 bars).

A complete performance of all six pieces lasts around 30 minutes.

Composition

The idea for these pieces came from Nikolay Bernard, editor of the Saint Petersburg journal Nuvellist (Нувеллист). In January 1882, Bernard sent a letter to Tchaikovsky asking him to write for Nuvellist, "at the subscribers' request", six pieces for piano; if the composer was agreeable, four of them should have the titles Nocturne, Dreams, Salon Waltz and Russian Dance . However, Tchaikovsky was bound by an agreement with his publisher, which gave Pyotr Jurgenson the right of first refusal to publish the composer's works. If Tchaikovsky were to write the pieces for Nuvellist this would have been in breach of the terms of the agreement.

At this point Pyotr Jurgenson expressed a willingness to publish the piano pieces for piano, and asked the composer to write them for his firm instead. Tchaikovsky viewed Jurgenson's proposal as an attempt to deny him income from other publishing houses, and so he declined the commission . On 1/13 February 1882, Tchaikovsky wrote: "I carried out your interdict and wrote Bernard a polite refusal, because I considered that your point of view you were completely within your rights, and your argument was well-founded. All the same, I think it’s rather a shame" . Jurgenson wrote in reply: "You recently declared how you had profited by selling me now fewer than 6, 12, 24 piano pieces... Naturally I would not wish that your muse should be awakened just for financial reasons" . But on 23 February/7 March, Jurgenson repeated his request for piano pieces .

However, Tchaikovsky was now occupied with other work, and did not start composing the pieces; on 19/31 July, Pyotr Jurgenson reminded him again: "You've not forgotten my order for piano pieces? The Jurgenson brothers expect them without fail" .

Tchaikovsky did not fulfil his commission until late August/early September. On 10/22 September he wrote to Modest Tchaikovsky, listing all the work he had done that summer, including "6 pieces for piano, which were commissioned from me my both the Jurgenson brothers" . On 15/27 September he informed Pyotr Jurgenson, "The other day you anticipated my surprise, in the shape of 6 pieces for piano, which I only just delivered into the world. I wouldn't have written then, if Osip Ivanovich hadn't encouraged me to do so" .

Of the titles suggested by Nikolay Bernard, Tchaikovsky retained only one, Valse de Salon, which was published as the first number.