Classical Music | Music for Flute

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Marche Miniature from Orchestral Suite No. 1 Op. 43  Play

Colleen Matheu Flute
Natasha Mah Piano

Recorded on 05/10/2005, uploaded on 01/09/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Marche Miniature from Orchestral Suite No.1, Op.43     Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

In May of 1877, Tchaikovsky busied himself with the composition of his Suite No.1 in Major, Op.43. The suite underwent various changes before it took its final shape. Tchaikovsky had second thoughts about the prevalence of duple rhythm throughout, and then about the number of movements. 

The third movement Intermezzo is followed by a miniature March, originally described by the composer as March of the Lilliputians, a movement he attempted to withdraw, until persuaded to retain it. Throughout the whole work he enjoyed a freedom that the stand-form symphony would not allow, finding himself able to write the kind of music that found further expression in his ballets. Ironically, the most popular of all the movements has been the March that Tchaikovsky had once hoped to discard.     Colleen Matheu