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musichistory:

“Symphony No. 6 in B minor, ‘Pathétique,’ Op. 74, I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky [1893] (performers unknown for this recording…)

Random Music History Song of the Day

Tchaikovski composed his sixth symphony from as early as 1890 to 1893. Tchaikovski premiered the work in St. Petersburg on October 28, 1894. He titled the symphony “Патетическая” (transliterated as “Patetičeskaja”), the closest translation being “passionate.” Some confusion arises from the convention of using the French translation “Pathétique,” which common English speakers often falsely correlate to our word “pathetic.” The dramatic, dynamic first movement is posted here.

Nine days after the premiere, on November 6, the great Russian composer died of cholera (or as some legitimate historians have suggested, suicide). The strong emotions implied by his sixth symphony made a fitting goodbye.