Serenade For Strings In C Major, Op.48

Pyotr Ill'ych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

I. Pezzo in forma di sonatina

II. Waltz

III. Elegia

IV. Tema Russo

The formal title is "Serenade for String Ensemble."

This type of Music was in fashion during the heyday of the classical music, with Mozart as the typical example. Tchaikovsky wrote this serenade probably out of admiration with the same intention as that with which he wrote "Mozartiano" several years after.

Around 1880 when he wrote this serenade, he made puplic a series of orchestral suites which reflected his form of inclination toward the baroque or classical music. "Serenade for String in C major, Op.48" also shows the influence of this music and the composer himself confessed that he originally intended to call this piece a suite.

In his letter to Mrs Von Meck dated in September, 1880, Tchaikovsky wrote that he had not decided whether to write a symphony or a string quarter and then admitted that he had not yet the ability to write a symphony. So, he chose the middle road and wrote a string ensemble.

In a letter in October, he said that, although the piece was written based on his inner impulse, its artistic value had not been lost. "Serenade for Strings in C major, Op.48" is a crystalization of his pursuit of genuine formal beauty using strings alone, and of the balanced beauty of the classical music. In order words, this piece typically shows the West European taste of Tchaikovsky, who is often said to have belonged to the European school.