Description
The first piece of The Seasons, Op. 37b, written by Tchaikovsky in 1876. The set was commissioned by a St Petersburg monthly music magazine, one piece to appear in each issue. Each carries an epigraph — a Russian poem chosen by the editor — and January's comes from Pushkin.
In triple time, it depicts indoor winter hours beside the fire, with a settled, nocturne-like melody singing throughout. The middle section stirs a little and the expression changes, but the opening calm soon returns. Only some 1,500 notes fill over four minutes: the texture is sparse and the pace unhurried.
It is rated intermediate because there is almost no fast motion. The task is separating three layers — the right hand's melody, its inner voices, and the left-hand accompaniment. Sounded at a single volume the texture turns stodgy and the quiet of the fireside disappears. Bring only the melody forward and keep the accompaniment a level down. It is a long piece, so deciding where its summit lies before playing makes the shape visible.
Twelve piano pieces Tchaikovsky composed in 1875-76, each depicting a month of the Russian year in music.
Browse all songs in The Seasons →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was Russia's foremost Romantic composer, achieving worldwide fame through ballets such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. His style blends Western compositional technique with Russian melodic warmth, and his pedagogical piano collection Children's Album remains a beloved favorite. This site includes 7 of his works, including pieces from that collection and The Seasons.
View all works by Tchaikovsky →