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Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74

“Pathétique”189349 min

This guide follows Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 “Pathétique” (1893) in four parts: Adagio - Allegro non troppo (sonata form), Allegro con grazia (ternary form), Allegro molto vivace (rondo) and Finale: Adagio lamentoso (sonata form).

Recording: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Andris Nelsons

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AnalysisComments
  1. I - non troppo · Sonata form
  2. II · Ternary form
  3. III molto · Rondo
  4. IV: · Sonata form
I - non troppoSonata form0:02–19:48

A bassoon begins out of near silence, and the non troppo then starts with an anxious in the violas. The long, lyrical arrives, in D major, and . After the bassoon sinks to the quietest dynamic, a sudden full-orchestra outburst opens the . Later in the the brass quote a from the Orthodox Requiem. The in the , and the ends very quietly.

  2. :
II Ternary form20:20–28:31
III molto Rondo28:57–37:57
IV: Sonata form38:00–49:10

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

At a glance

  1. I. Adagio - Allegro non troppoSonata form · 20 min · 354 bars
  2. II. Allegro con graziaTernary form · 8 min · 210 bars · quarter note ≈ 134 bpm
  3. III. Allegro molto vivaceRondo · 9 min · 351 bars · quarter note ≈ 155 bpm
  4. IV. Finale: Adagio lamentosoSonata form · 11 min · 171 bars

Instruments: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Brass, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double bass

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74?
About 49 min in this recording, in 4 movements: I 20 min, II 8 min, III 9 min and IV 11 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: ternary form, III: rondo and IV: sonata form.
Which instruments play in Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74?
Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Brass, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Double bass.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: II quarter note ≈ 134 bpm and III quarter note ≈ 155 bpm.
Is there a score of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74?
Yes, of every movement.

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