Composer

:

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1886

Average_duration

:

2:37

"O, if you knew, Op. 60/3" is a song composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky in 1886. It is part of his collection of six romances, Op. 60, which were written for voice and piano. The song is based on a poem by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, a Russian poet and playwright. The premiere of "O, if you knew" was on January 25, 1887, in Moscow, with the famous Russian soprano Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya performing the song. The song is in the key of F minor and has a moderate tempo. It is a relatively short song, lasting only about three minutes. The song has a simple structure, consisting of an introduction, two verses, and a coda. The piano accompaniment is relatively simple, with a repeating pattern of chords that provide a gentle and melancholic backdrop to the vocal melody. The vocal line is expressive and lyrical, with a range of emotions conveyed through the use of dynamics and phrasing. The poem that inspired the song is a lament about lost love. The speaker of the poem is addressing their former lover, expressing their regret at the end of the relationship and their longing to be reunited. The song captures the melancholic mood of the poem, with Tchaikovsky's music conveying the sense of loss and yearning that the speaker feels. Overall, "O, if you knew" is a beautiful and poignant song that showcases Tchaikovsky's skill as a composer of vocal music. Its simple structure and expressive melody make it a popular choice for singers and audiences alike.

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