Klin, near Moscow, was the home of one of the busiest of men. It is
here that the late Russian composer, Tschaïkowsky, lived and worked,
devoting the greater part of the day to his art. Nine o'clock every
morning found him hard at work, and it was one before he stopped for
a light lunch. Two hours every afternoon were rigidly set aside for
one of the few recreations in which he used to indulge, viz., walking;
and it was during these daily strolls that most of the sketches of
his pieces were conceived, and entered into a note-book which was
always forthcoming. Home was reached soon after four, and from five
to half-past eight was employed in arranging and setting in order the
sketches jotted down during the walk.
A piano, he considered, is not absolutely necessary, and he composed
much without the use of one. For instance, on a journey, or long
voyage, or when rusticating in some primitive, far-away little hamlet,
where the peacefulness and quietude are suggestive of composition, but
where the running brook does duty for a piano and you fit your melodies
to the sighing of the wind among the fir trees. Still, the instrument
helped sometimes the development of his musical ideas, and generally
when convenient he made use of one. "I believe," he said, "the creating
power of music to be a precious gift of Nature, which cannot be
obtained by work and study, but only improved and lighted by musical
sciences, besides being purely _empérique_. With the belief that
composers often work better and produce finer results when put under a
certain amount of pressure the professor agrees, pinning his belief on
history, which tells us of many masterpieces being done thus.
"I have never thought," he resumed, "of the reasons explaining why
England, who produced such great poets, has had, comparatively
speaking, but few musicians. It seems to me that the idea that the
English are not gifted for music cannot be considered as 'definitive.'
Who knows that a musical Shakespeare will not be produced? You have
already men of much promise and whose work is very serious."
Of his own compositions, Tschaïkowsky considered his opera "La Dame de
Pique" the best work he had ever done, an opinion which is shared by
many of his admirers.
[Illustration: P Tschaïkowsky]
NOTE.--Cowen's opera, referred to in our February number as
"Sigrid," should have been "Signa," which had not been produced
when this article was written.
[Illustration]