Tchaikovsky was born in 1840.

      Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer and is still well known for the music he wrote that has been turned into ballets.  He wrote mostly for the orchestra, much of his music being melodious – some sounding sad and some full of life.  Some of his most famous suites are Swan lake, the Nutcracker Suite and Sleeping Beauty (best known in modern times as ballets).  He wrote a number of large works for orchestra (symphonies) that combine a group of balanced pieces into one performance.  One of these symphonies features solo piano with an orchestra back up.

      Tchaikovsky started out his career as a lawyer and philosopher.  He was 22 years of age before beginning to study music.  He quickly developed his skills and started composing and teaching music 4 years later.  He lived a rather lonely life, but was able to devote himself to composing because of the anonymous support of a wealthy admirer who he never met although she paid for all his daily needs.  Tchaikovsky spent 16 years devoted to composing before he died in 1893.

Last modified: April 13, 2009