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Romantic · character piece

The Seasons: February

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

The Carnival, one month in a musical year. The Seasons: February is a character piece by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • character piece
  • Romantic
  • dancing
  • joyful
  • scales runs

Also known as Op. 37a No. 2; TH 135 No. 2; ČW 124 No. 2.

History

February, "The Carnival", is No. 2 in The Seasons. Tchaikovsky's twelve piano pieces appeared month by month in Nuvellist in 1876.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A clear two-beat gesture

    The top voice alternates A and E quarter notes. Keep their pulse steady and let the repeated gesture establish the opening character.

  2. Short notes with bounce

    Detached sixteenths alternate D and E before two detached F-sharp eighths. Keep the quick notes even and the ending light.

  3. A broader answer

    Two eighth notes lead into a quarter note. Hear the change from the quick detached figure to this simpler, longer gesture.

  4. The opening idea returns

    The alternating quarter notes return, followed by the detached sixteenth-note figure. Keep the familiar rhythm recognizable through the repetition.

  5. An accented arrival and a rest

    A rising sixteenth-note figure lands on an accented B-flat, then pauses. Let the accent mark the arrival and leave the following rest clear.

How to practise it

Keep the forceful quarters clear before the detached small figure.

  1. Practise the A-E positions slowly with relaxed movement.
  2. Practise the quarters into the smaller detached figure at one comfortable pulse.
  3. Connect the stated opening gestures at a comfortable tempo, keeping their distinct releases.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

The proposed upper-intermediate target values dependable coordination and clear character changes through the complete February component, rather than accurate pitches at a single slow practice pace.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
Small scenes, big imagination
Licence
Public Domain
Source
mutopiaproject.org

More by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

  1. Old French SongLevel 3, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. The Seasons: JanuaryLevel 6, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. DoumkaLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Keep the forceful quarters clear before the detached small figure.

Practise it in PlayPiano