Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
(1840-1893)

Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36
Composed between 1877 and 1878

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, composed amidst a whirlwind of personal challenges and emotional upheaval, stands as a profound testament to the composer's struggle with fate and destiny. Written during a time marked by a tumultuous marriage and a significant, yet platonic, relationship with Nadezhda von Meck, the symphony is imbued with pathos and tempestuous emotions, reflecting Tchaikovsky's inner turmoil.

The creation of Symphony No. 4 coincided with two significant events in Tchaikovsky's life: his relationship with Nadezhda von Meck, a wealthy widow and ardent supporter of his music, and his ill-fated marriage to Antonina Ivanovna Milyukova. The intense, though platonic, correspondence with von Meck provided Tchaikovsky a safe outlet for his emotions and creative thoughts, contrasting starkly with the turmoil of his brief, disastrous marriage to Milyukova.

Tchaikovsky himself described the symphony as “our symphony” in a letter to von Meck, providing a programmatic framework to understand its movements:

The introduction is the seed of the whole symphony, undoubtedly the main idea. This is Fate: this is that fateful force which prevents the impulse to happiness from attaining its goal, which jealously ensures that peace and happiness shall not be complete and unclouded, which hangs above the head like the sword of Damocles, unwaveringly, constantly poisoning the soul. It is an invincible force that can never be overcome — merely endured, hopelessly.

The second movement of the symphony expresses another aspect of sadness. This is that melancholy feeling which comes in the evening when, weary from one's toil, one sits alone with a book — but it falls from the hand. There come a whole host of memories. It is sad that so much is now in the past, albeit pleasant to recall one's youth...

The third movement expresses no specific feeling. This is whimsical arabesques, vague images which can sweep past the imagination after drinking a little wine and feeling the first phases of intoxication. The spirit is neither cheerful, nor sad. Thinking about nothing in particular, giving free rein to the imagination...These are completely incoherent images which sweep through the head as one falls asleep. They have nothing in common with reality; they are strange, wild, and incoherent...

The fourth movement. If within yourself you find no reasons for joy, then look at others. Go out among the people. See how they can enjoy themselves, surrendering themselves wholeheartedly to joyful feelings...Joy is a simple but powerful force. Rejoice in the rejoicing of others. To live is still possible.

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 transcends mere musical composition, becoming a narrative of his life's struggles and emotions. The symphony invites listeners into the composer's world, where personal grief and joy are intertwined with the universal theme of fate. It stands as a testament to Tchaikovsky's genius in expressing the inexpressible through music, making it a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.

Instrumentation – two flutes and piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, and strings 

Duration – 44 minutes

~ Kenneth Bean
Georg and Joyce Albers-Schonberg Assistant Conductor
Princeton Symphony Orchestra