Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto

When people listen to Tchaikovsky’s repertoire they would say his music exudes passion, energy, and depth. The first movement of the Piano Concerto No.1 in B-Flat Minor by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky exhibits elements of true orchestral genius utilizing its range to the fullest in combination with the complex and intricate yet powerful fingerings of the solo pianist. What perplexes yet entertains the audience is the contrast from the beginning of the piece where the introduction is lyrical, confident and passionate, it misleads the audience as the rest of the first movement is stormy and full of drama and uncertainty after that it arrives to a triumphant and iconic ending after many sections of confusion. The first movement is reminiscent of the trials and tribulations Tchaikovsky battled throughout his life time including isolation, homosexuality, …show more content…
One of the main distinctions the Piano Concerto No.1 begins from the very first Bar. Traditionally in Classical concertos and more prominently in Chopin’s Piano Concerto’s the orchestra introduces the main theme. The piano for the most part comes in later in the first movement. During the Romantic era (Tchaikovsky’s time period), breakthroughs in the production of the Piano allowed it to sound much louder without compromising in tone and pitch. As the piano became known as a powerful instrument both physically and culturally, Tchaikovsky used it to his advantage and introduced the piano early onto the piece specifically Bar 6 signaling the composer to use the pedal and play at a volume of fortissimo. (Miralman; 2003)The beginning of the piece asserts the Piano’s dominance throughout the first movement highlighting the strength of both the performer and the range of the piano. With 3 D-flat major chords in each bar, the piano accompanies the orchestra in a grandiose