1873-1874
1. Op. 18. The Tempest, symphonic fantasia for full orchestra upon a Shakespearean programme. Composed between 7th (19th) and 17th (29th) August, 1873; orchestrated by October 10th (22nd). Dedicated to Vladimir Vassilievich Stassov. First performed December 7th (19th), 1873, under N. Rubinstein. Jurgenson.
2. Op. 21. Six pianoforte pieces upon a theme. (1) Prelude, (2) Fugue, (3) Impromptu, (4) Funeral March, (5) Mazurka, (6) Scherzo. Dedicated to Anton Rubinstein. Composed before October 30th (November 11th), 1873. Bessel.
3. Op. 22. Quartet No. 2 (F major), for two violins, viola, and violoncello. Dedicated to the Grand Duke Constantine. Commenced at the end of December, 1873, or early in January, 1874, and finished by the 26th of that month. Shortly afterwards it was played at a musical evening at N. Rubinstein’s, and probably Tchaikovsky afterwards made some changes in it, as he was still engaged upon the work in the middle of February. First public performance March 10th (22nd), 1874. Jurgenson.
4. Op. 14. Vakoula the Smith (Kouznetz Vakoula, known also as Cherevichek and Les Caprices d’Oxane), opera in three acts and seven scenes. The libretto is taken from a tale by Gogol and set to verse by J. Polonsky. Dedicated to the memory of the Grand Duchess Helena. Composed and orchestrated during the summer of 1874. Partially remodelled about 1885. Published by Jurgenson.
1874-1875
1. Op. 25. Six songs: (1) “Herz, o lass dich von Schlummer umfangen,” words by Scherbin, dedicated to A. P. Kroutikov. (2) “Wie hier die Schrift in Aschengluth,” words by Tioutchev, dedicated to D. Orlov. (3) “Mignon’s Lied,” words by Goethe, dedicated to M. Kamenskaya. (4) “Der Kanarienvogel,” words by Mey, dedicated to V. Raab. (5) “Mit ihr ein Wort gesprochen hab’ ich nie,” words by Mey, dedicated to I. Melnikov. (6) “Einst zum Narren Jemand spricht,” words by Mey. These songs were probably composed in September, 1874. Published by V. Bessel.
2. Op. 19. Six pianoforte pieces: (1) “Rêverie,” dedicated to N. D. Kondratiev. (2) “Scherzo-humoristique,” dedicated to Vera Timanov. (3) “Feuillet d’album,” dedicated to A. Abramov, (4) “Nocturne,” dedicated to Frau Terminsky. (5) “Capriccio”, dedicated to E. Langer. (6) “Thème avec Variations,” dedicated to H. Laroche. The manuscript is dated October 27th (November 8th), 1873. Jurgenson.
3. Op. 23. Concerto for pianoforte and orchestra (in B♭ minor). Composed in November and December, 1874. The orchestration was completed, according to a note on the score, February 9th (21st), 1875. Dedicated to Hans von Bülow. Published by Jurgenson. In a letter to Frau von Meck, Tchaikovsky says he took as the principal subject of the first movement a phrase sung by Malo-Russian blind beggars at a village fair at Kamenka.