PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY

Early Life
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Vyatka,
Russia. At only five years old, Tchaikovsky started taking
piano lessons. He could read music within three years. He
had an early passion for music, but his parents hoped he
would grow up to work in the civil service. Pyotr began
attending the Imperial School of Jurisprudence, a boarding
school in St. Petersburg, at age 10. His mother died of
cholera when he was 14. He wrote a waltz in her memory.
Tchaikovsky honored his parents’ wishes by taking a bureau
clerk position post with the Ministry of Justice in 1859. He
held this post for four years and became increasingly
fascinated with music. He decided to take music lessons
at the Russian Musical Society when he was 21 years old. He enrolled at
the newly founded St. Petersburg Conservatory a few months later.
Pyotr became one of the first composition students, studying with
Anton Rubinstein. He also gave private lessons to other students at
the same time. He moved to Moscow in 1863, where he became a
professor of harmony at the Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky
composed his first recognized masterpiece, the Overture-Fantasy
Romeo and Juliet in 1869. He was deeply inspired by Shakespeare’s
writing and composed other works for The Tempest and Hamlet in his
later years.

Personal Life
Pyotr married a young music student, Antonina Milyukova, in 1877. The
marriage was a catastrophe and Tchaikovsky abandoned his wife after
only weeks of marriage. He had a nervous breakdown and fled abroad.
He resigned from the Moscow Conservatory in 1878 and was supported
by a wealthy widow who provided him a monthly allowance until 1890.
He went to America in 1891 for the opening of Carnegie Hall, where he
was invited to conduct his music.

Death
Tchaikovsky died on November 6, 1893 in St. Petersburg from cholera. His
compositions are some of the greatest works of the Romantic Era,
including the 1812 Overture , March Slave , and The Nutcracker , which has
become a Christmas season favorite. Tchaikovsky’s music is famous for
its strong emotion and lasting appeal.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name_________________________________________

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY
Matching: Match each term with its description.
1. _____ Romantic A. Tchaikovsky died from this

2. _____ Russia B. Tchaikovsky moved to this city in 1863

3. _____ Shakespeare C. Tchaikovsky studied at the conservatory

4. _____ piano D. Era of music Tchaikovsky compose

5. _____ St. Petersburg E. Tchaikovsky conducted at this hall in America

6. _____ Rubinstein F. Country where Tchaikovsky was born

7. _____ Moscow G. Tchaikovsky was inspired by this writer

8. _____ Brahms H. Tchaikovsky started lessons on this at age 5

9. _____ cholera I. Tchaikovsky married her

10. _____ Carnegie J. Tchaikovsky studied with this teache

Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer.

11. Which statement about Tchaikovsky is correct?
A. He never married or had children.
B. He wrote many compositions as a young child.
C. He never left Russia.
D. He was a professor at the Moscow Conservatory.

12. How did Tchaikovsky mainly support himself after leaving

his wife?
A. A wealthy widow paid him a monthly allowance.
B. He published many compositions.
C. He taught music to young children.
D. He conducted symphonies.

13. Which event occurred first in Tchaikovsky’s life?

A. He married Antonina Milyukova.
B. He conducted at the opening of Carnegie Hall.
C. He moved to Moscow and became a professor.
D. His mother died from cholera.
©Teaching to the Middle