Composer

:

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1878

Average_duration

:

1:49

"O, if only you could for a moment, Op. 38/4" is a song composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky in 1878. It is part of his collection of songs titled "Six Romances, Op. 38." The song is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The premiere of "Six Romances, Op. 38" took place in Moscow on November 22, 1878, with the composer himself at the piano. The collection of songs was well-received by the audience and critics alike. "O, if only you could for a moment" is the fourth song in the collection. It is a melancholic and introspective piece, with a slow and mournful tempo. The song is in the key of F minor and has a simple and repetitive piano accompaniment that creates a sense of longing and sadness. The song's lyrics were written by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, a Russian poet and playwright. The text is a reflection on lost love and the pain of separation. The narrator of the song longs to be reunited with their beloved, even if only for a moment, to relive the happiness they once shared. The song is divided into three distinct sections, each with its own character and mood. The first section is slow and mournful, with the narrator expressing their longing for their lost love. The second section is more agitated and passionate, with the narrator pleading for their beloved to return. The final section returns to the mournful mood of the beginning, with the narrator resigned to their fate and accepting their loneliness. Overall, "O, if only you could for a moment" is a beautiful and poignant song that showcases Tchaikovsky's skill as a composer of vocal music. Its simple yet powerful melody and emotional depth make it a beloved piece in the repertoire of Russian art songs.

More....