1. Op. 53. Suite No. 2, in four movements, for full orchestra. Dedicated to Madame P. W. Tchaikovsky. First performed at an extra concert of the Russian Musical Society, February 4th (16th), 1884, in Moscow, under the direction of Max Erdmannsdörfer. Published by Jurgenson.
2. Op. 54. Sixteen Children’s Songs, with pianoforte accompaniment. Published by Jurgenson.
3. Op. 55. Suite No. 3, in four movements, for full orchestra. Dedicated to M. Erdmannsdörfer. First performance in Petersburg, in January, 1885, under the direction of Hans von Bülow. Published by Jurgenson.
4. Op. 56. Fantasia Concerto, in two movements, for pianoforte, with orchestral accompaniment. Originally dedicated to Madame A. Essipoff; afterwards to Madame Sophie Menter. Played for the first time by S. Taneiev, February 22nd (March 6th), 1885, in Moscow. Published by Jurgenson.
5. Impromptu Capriccio for pianoforte. Dedicated to Madame S. Jurgenson. Originally published in the “Subscribers’ Album” of Paris Gaulois. Was taken over later by Jurgenson.
6. Elegy for string orchestra. Composed in memory of the actor, I. Samarin. Published by Jurgenson.
7. Three church anthems. Published by Jurgenson.
8. Op. 57. Six songs, with pianoforte accompaniment, (1) “O, sprich, wovon die Nachtigall,” (2) “Auf’s bleiche Herbstgefild,” (3) “O, frage nicht,” (4) “Schlaf’ ein,” (5) “Der Tod,” (6) “Nur du allein.” Published by Jurgenson. Besides the above, Tchaikovsky had been working, in November, 1884, at the reconstruction of his opera, Vakoula the Smith.
From January 1st to September 12th, 1885
1. Remodelling the opera Vakoula the Smith as Les Caprices d’Oxane. Besides simplifying the orchestration and harmony and cutting down the work, as he first proposed, Tchaikovsky also introduced some entirely new numbers: (1) the duet between Vakoula and Oxane and the Finale of the second scene in first act, (2) the Schoolmaster’s song, (3) the quintet in the first scene of the second act, (4) the couplets in third act. Published by Jurgenson.