Tchaikovsky: Marche slave, Op. 31 (with Score)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
Marche slave (Slavonic March), Op. 31, TH 45 (with Score)
Composed: 1876
Conductor: Mikhail Pletnev
Orchestra: Russian National Orchestra
0:00 Moderato in modo di marcia funebre (B-flat minor)
3:28 L'istesso tempo (A-flat major)
7:13 Più mosso. Allegro (B-flat major)
8:02 Andante molto maestoso (B-flat major)
8:20 Allegro risoluto (B-flat major)
The Marche slave in B-flat minor, Op. 31, is an orchestral tone poem by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky published in 1876. It was written to celebrate Russia's intervention in the Serbian-Ottoman War.
In June 1876, Serbia and the Ottoman Empire were engaged in the Serbian-Ottoman War. Russia openly supported Serbia. The Russian Musical Society commissioned an orchestral piece from Tchaikovsky for a concert in aid of the Red Cross Society, and ultimately for the benefit of wounded Serbian veterans. Many Russians sympathized with their fellow Slavs and Orthodox Christians and sent volunteer soldiers and aid to assist Serbia.
Tchaikovsky referred to the piece as his "Serbo-Russian March" while writing it. It was premiered in Moscow on November 17 [O.S. November 5] 1876, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein.
The march is highly programmatic in its form and organization. The first section describes the oppression of the Serbs by the Turks. It uses two Serbian folk songs, "Sunce jarko, ne sijaš jednako" (Bright sun, you do not shine equally), by Isidor Ćirić and "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike" (Gladly does the Serb become a soldier), by Josip Runjanin - giving way to the second section in the relative major key, which describes the Russians rallying to help the Serbs. This is based on a simple melody with the character of a rustic dance which is passed around the orchestra until finally it gives way to a solemn statement of the Russian national anthem "God Save the Tsar". The third section of the piece is a repeat of Tchaikovsky's furious orchestral climax, reiterating the Serbian cry for help. The final section describes the Russian volunteers marching to assist the Serbs. It uses a Russian tune, this time in the tonic major key and includes another blazing rendition of "God Save the Tsar" prophesying the triumph of the Slavonic people over Ottomans. The overture finishes with a virtuoso coda for the full orchestra.
The piece is frequently paired in performance with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," which also quotes "God Save the Tsar."

[@bitchslappedme]

I remember being obsessed with this piece as a child.
Thank you for the good recording.

[@valerietaylor9615]

I fell in love with this piece when I was eleven or twelve. It was on an LP, along with Tchaicovsky’s Fifth Symphony, played by (I think) the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. An excellent rendition of both pieces. My mother bought the recording when I was in the fifth or sixth grade. I used to play it every evening after dinner, for about a year. Then, my mother bought a recording of Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony, “From The New World”. After that, I played the two recordings on alternate days. Hearing this piece always brings back such memories!

[@JVR10893]

In my six years spent in school band, this is by far my favorite piece I ever got to perform.

[@randompersonh]

I'm playing this in Youth Symphony (2nd Violin) thanks for the recording with the score!

[@valerietaylor9615]

Good for you!

[@656520]

Here are the timestamps from the quotations:
- Sunce jarko, ne sijaš jednako: 1 (00:17), 2 (00:38), 3(00:59), 4 (2:26), 5(2:45), 6 (5:55), 7 (6:13).
- Rado ide Srbin u vojnike: 1 (4:06), 2 (4:15).
- God Save the Tsar: 1 (4:51), 2 (7:46), 3 (8:02)*, 4 (8:12)*.
* varied motive but still recognizable
What other quotations are there? tell me if you find more.

[@hannahr3275]

There is also "Prag Je Ovo Milog Srpsvta" for example, in (3:31) !

[@danielbennett382]

This sounds like a mashup of the 1812 Overture and Star Wars

[@MrDude-gs5je]

Fun fact the imperial march was heavily inspired by this

[@valerietaylor9615]

Marche Slave is much better than the 1812 Overture, though it’s been mercilessly panned by the critics. And I’m also partly of Slavic heritage (not Russian, though.)

[@leonardocampo5979]

its crazy because there is a motiff thats literally just the same bar for bar

[@caroaroaroline9999]

Picc entrances -
2:15 (5m to entrance/listen strings)
3:41 (4m to entrance/listen brass)
5:45 (5m to entrance/listen strings)
7:40 (3m+4beats to entrance/listen trumpet)

[@user-ru8vy1uz7c]

Bravo bravo bravo brilliance fantastic grandiose genial music super super super wow wow wow

[@coasterdragon155]

oh my goodness i love this so much, it reminds me of star wars especially with the B-flat tremolo, high trills in the winds

[@pnocella]

Nicely done! Bravo to Maestro Pletnev and the musicians of the Russian National Orchestra

[@GJYYNGII]

​@@ihateelectricguitar7369 Okay, now you're just being immature. I don't understand what your problem is, but are you really going to blame Russian people for everything, and just bash random people for sharing their opinions on music from the composers of that country? It's Putin who you should be mad about. He's the one who decided to start the war.

[@artyjaycayairlines]

@@GJYYNGII
And they deleted their reply…
Also instead of just saying “Russia”, say “Russian people”

[@KurianzackXd23-bq8hg]

i remenber in 2021 the large orchesta in Venezuela

[@Dylonely42]

4:51
7:46

[@Dylonely42]

GSTT

[@MiguelGarcia-jy6kk]

7:07

[@cannotcompute1690]

2:45

[@agastyasharma2612]

7:30
7:46
8:19
mmmm... love starting audition 4 hours before its due

[@su4509]

2:16

[@nocoins4855]

I played this in 7th grade violin 1 (I was a prodigy on the violin)

[@MiguelGarcia-jy6kk]

3:30