1:51
Slow, sad, emotional string orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo90 bpm (ends at 90)
Tempo NotesVery Slow : Tempo very rough approximation
Album Number2/1
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00201
Factoid :
After his 9 day marriage, Tchaikovsky attempted suicide by trying to drown himself in the River Neva. It is believed he finally succeeded by taking poison many years later (when he was 53)
0:52
Cautious, hesitant string orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo90 bpm (ends at 90)
Tempo NotesSlow
Album Number2/2
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00202
Factoid :
Tchaikovsky's first marriage to Antonia Miliukova lasted for just 9 days. She died in a mental asylum
0:41
Fast, bright string orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo127 bpm (ends at 127)
Tempo NotesFast
Album Number2/4
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00204
Factoid :
Mozart's influence can be heard in this work. Tchaikovsky had a lifelong admiration for Mozart's work
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo63 bpm (ends at 63)
Tempo NotesVery Slow
Album Number2/6
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00206
Factoid :
It is believed that Tchaikovsky committed suicide after he admitted adultery with the nephew of a nobleman
2:01
Very slow, dark chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo53 bpm (ends at 53)
Tempo NotesVery Slow
Album Number2/7
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00207
Factoid :
It is believed that Tchaikovsky committed suicide after he admitted adultery with the nephew of a nobleman
Waltz
(2/8)
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
1:31
Lilting waltz. Chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
3/4
Tempo182 bpm (ends at 182)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/8
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00208
Factoid :
In 1885 Tchaikovsky bought a country house in Klin and lived in hermit like isolation
0:39
Bright, flowing chamber orchestral
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo105 bpm (ends at 105)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/9
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00209
Factoid :
The Children's album was written by Tchaikovsky in 1878. It comprises 24 pieces
1:19
Expressive orchestral waltz / Polish Mazurka
Key
Metre
3/4
Tempo127 bpm (ends at 127)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/10
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00210
Factoid :
The Children's album was written by Tchaikovsky in 1878. It comprises 24 pieces
0:36
Russian style chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
2/4
Tempo118 bpm (ends at 118)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/11
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00211
Factoid :
The Children's album was written by Tchaikovsky in 1878. It comprises 24 pieces
0:44
Short section from The Children's Album. Graceful chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo153 bpm (ends at 153)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/12
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00212
Factoid :
Tchaikovsky was a frustrated homosexual living in a repressive time. He suffered from depression throughout his life. He composed under the patronage of a wealthy widow whom he never met
0:40
Folk song from The Children's Album. Chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo180 bpm (ends at 180)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/13
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00213
Factoid :
Tchaikovsky studied under Rubinstein and was also friendly with Rimsky-Korsakov
Polka
(2/14)
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
0:42
Cheerful Polka from The Children's Album. Chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo127 bpm (ends at 127)
Tempo NotesFast
Album Number2/14
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00214
Factoid :
The Polka is a Bohemian dance which became hugely popular throughout Europe in the 1840s
0:59
Light, gentle waltz. Chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
3/4
Tempo174 bpm (ends at 174)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/15
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00215
Factoid :
This waltz is similar to the works of the Strauss family who were Viennese. There were 7 recognised composers in the family (3 of them called Johann) most of whom were known for their waltzes
1:41
Slow, mournful, orchestral. Features oboe
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo43 bpm (ends at 43)
Tempo NotesVery Slow
Album Number2/16
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00216
Factoid :
After his 9 day marriage, Tchaikovsky attempted suicide by trying to drown himself in the River Neva. It is believed he finally succeeded by taking poison many years' later (when he was 53)
1:11
Slow Bavarian waltz. Features percussion, strings & horns
Key
Metre
3/4
Tempo100 bpm (ends at 100)
Tempo NotesSlow
Album Number2/17
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00217
Factoid :
Sir Thomas Beecham once said to a horn player; ‘Are you producing as much sound as possible from that quaint and antique drainage system which you are applying to your face?’
1:00
Bright, light, jaunty strings, wood wind & horns. Speeds up. Very fast end
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo170 bpm (ends at 250)
Tempo NotesN/A
Album Number2/18
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00218
Factoid :
Tchaikovsky was a contemporary of Offenbach's. Offenbach was born in the city of Cologne and signed his name ‘O de Cologne’
0:48
Bright, light, jaunty strings, wood wind & horns. Speeds up. Very fast end
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo170 bpm (ends at 250)
Tempo NotesVery Fast
Album Number2/19
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00219
Factoid :
Tchaikovsky was great friends with Brahms, who started his career at 13 as a pianist playing in taverns and brothels
0:44
Busy, fast string orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo140 bpm (ends at 140)
Tempo NotesFast
Album Number2/20
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00220
Factoid :
Mussorgsky also did a Baba Yaga as part of The Great Gate of Kiev. Baba Yaba was a fearsome witch in Russian Folk law
2:38
Tender, slow, romantic strings. 'Celli & violins share melody. Waltz time
Key
Metre
3/4
Tempo60 bpm (ends at 60)
Tempo NotesSlow : Can also be counted at 120 BPM. Very rough guide to tempo
Album Number2/21
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00221
Factoid :
The word Album as in Tchaikovsky's 'Children's Album', is Latin and refers to the white tablets onto which records or notices were inscribed. It came to mean any list, or group of works compiled together
1:11
Intricate, shrill flute over pastoral chamber orchestra
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo87 bpm (ends at 87)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/22
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00222
Factoid :
The word Album as in Tchaikovsky's 'Children's Album', is Latin and refers to the white tablets onto which records or notices were inscribed. It came to mean any list, or group of works compiled together
0:57
Delicate, lilting string orchestra
Key
Metre
3/4
Tempo115 bpm (ends at 115)
Tempo NotesMedium
Album Number2/23
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00223
Factoid :
The word Album as in Tchaikovsky's 'Children's Album', is Latin and refers to the white tablets onto which records or notices were inscribed. It came to mean any list, or group of works compiled together
2:41
Dark, funereal, solemn strings. Interspersed with church 'bell'
Key
Metre
4/4
Tempo43 bpm (ends at 43)
Tempo NotesVery Slow
Album Number2/24
ISRCGB-FFM-05-00224
Factoid :
The word Album as in Tchaikovsky's 'Children's Album', is Latin and refers to the white tablets onto which records or notices were inscribed. It came to mean any list, or group of works compiled together