Chanson Napolitaine

The work of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) is exemplary of the synthesis of Russian musical thought (influenced by Italian and French music) and the tendencies of western neo-romanticism. He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest composers of all time, having left a bequest of six symphonies, ten operas, three ballets, three concertos for piano, one for violin, and one for cello, three string quartets, and many other chamber, choral and piano compositions and songs. Beside large-scale symphonic pieces and operas, Tchaikovsky also liked to write for the smaller genres. His “Album pour enfants: 24 pièces faciles à la Schumann, op.39” for piano was composed in 1878. Tchaikovsky was inspired by the world of children (My Little Mother, March of the Wooden Soldiers), as well as by the moods and world around them (Winter Morning, The Lark’s Song), and of folk melodies (Old French Song, Italian Song). The album includes “Chanson Napolitaine” (No.18) which he also used in the ballet “Swan Lake”. Karel Bélohoubek arranged this chanson for wind band and solo trumpet.