Sheet Music: Chanson triste

TitleChanson triste
from Twelve Pieces
Alternate titlesChanson triste from Douze Morceaux
Sad Song from 12 Pieces
Opus numberOp. 40, No. 2
ComposerPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
InstrumentationFlute and Piano
KeyG minor
RangeC4–Bb5
Time signature4/4
Tempo96 BPM
Performance time2:50
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (114 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.4 MB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.5 MB)
Date added2010-01-11
Last updated2010-01-11
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 1.8 (above average)
Categories
Romantic

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Monday 11 January 2010

Tune of the Day: Chanson triste

by P.I. Tchaikovsky, arranged for Flute and Piano

Tchaikovsky composed “Chanson triste” (French for “Sad Song”) in 1878, a turbulent year, marked by his struggle to distance himself from his estranged wife Antonina. In the midst of his emotional turmoil, the composer managed to find some peace at Kamenka, near Kiev in Ukraine, where he had use of a cottage. There, while working on his Piano Sonata in G major and the Album for Children, Tchaikovsky composed the Twelve Pieces from which the “Chanson triste” is taken.

Many of these Romantic miniatures for amateur pianists seem to display a certain sadness, and it's easy to believe that Tchaikovsky may have expressed his own feelings in these works. “Chanson Triste” is a perfect example of this mood. Despite its simplicity, the piece nevertheless captivates the listener with its disarming sincerity and touching intensity.