Perhaps, just somebody entirely far from civilization do not know, that Peter Il'ich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) is the Great Russian composer. In rather short, but very eventful life Tchaikovsky created tens of outstanding pieces of music which until now are also well known, do not descends from playbills, sounds in new performances. As the author of music, Tchaikovsky is still loved by many, many musicians worldwide, but in Russia and Europe, likely, the most executed along with Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart and Bach. What the secret of such popularity? It`s thought not only in diversity of genres, he skillfully mastered, but in music itself, in the sounds, passionate and trembling, heroic and merry, but frequently tragical and sad, in the music all the way through penetrated by genuine human sincerity, love and empathy. Melody, feelings authenticity, impeccable self-expression cleanliness is present in his each composition, whether be it tiny etude, a big symphony, opera or ballet. Undoubtedly, it attracts executors and public.
But, both in Peter Il'ich's music, and everything in his person attracts very much too. Sometimes it seems that for the incomplete fifty four years old he lived some lives, from the cloudless childhood in a noble family in provincial Votkinsk with good tutors and excellent education to the diligent graduate of school of jurisprudence in St. Petersburg, from ordinary career of the beginning official of the Ministry of Justice to the teacher of the Moscow conservatory, then the free actor, and, at last, the composer recognized by all. In Tchaikovsky`s big family there were no professional musicians, as well as among his closest friends of youth. The composer's talent in him was recognized not at once, he had to prove his abilities by insistent, persistent work, and who knows, as if his future was turned, do not he met on the way of living protruding musicians and devotees, Rubinshtein's brothers! Evidently, therefore Tchaikovsky even in the glory zenith did not lose hypertrophied feeling of self-checking adjoining at times with crisis uncertainty of his creative potential.
However, there was in his life critical period (about 1875-1876), pointed by unbelievable creative growth. Exactly in this period he created the masterpieces of the world classical music entirely different on genre and mood - the first concert for piano with orchestra, ballet «The Swan lake» and overture-imagination «Francheska da Rimini» which brought him the world glory. According to the experienced author of this story, in these compositions Tchajkovsky surpassed himself, the former. What happened? What moved the composer to make immortal creations exactly in this period of his life? And in general, what is the creativity, whom and what authors should be grateful, creating works of art?
I really tried to tell in this story about the sources of inspiration, opportunities and development the creative potential in human society by the example of the life of Russian composer favourite in the world. Though events described in it take a place before last century, everything changed, but much is urgent and until now, because inside perception novelty by person always falls behind from time facts. Everything changes, to replace steam trains and steamships comes planes, to replace books and writing blocks - computers, only sounds and scales, letters and words, paints and canvases, voices and movements remain constant, - everybody is of the right to do with all of this everything the soul will wish, if there are such abilities. The main, that it wasn't a shame with own creation, and the faultless belief got stronger, that by all means it will surely find response in hearts and minds of people, will give the chance everybody to feel himself best, to open something new, to become more courageous, more honest, Galahad, sympathetic. Shouldn’t it must be the base in eternal seeking of the society to perfection? Or, absorbed by forces of the evil, we really not at all aspire to the light, and instinct of self-preservation to the mankind became entirely alien?
The humanistic message and belief in a better future directed me when writing the story «Si-minor». By the main source of inspiration, of course, Peter Il'ich Tchaikovsky's music served. In the course of work I actively penetrated into his diaries, letters, memoirs of friends and contemporaries. Trying to be objective, at the same time I used my rights to art fiction and changed a number of names. However I made it with only by purpose to show more convincingly all the beauty and treasure of private world of my main hero.
Author.
© Copyright. On cover – Dominic North as prince Zigfrid in the ballet "Swan lake" by P.I.Tchaikovsky, sign my book at Gena Ivanov's studio.