In January of 1871 Tchaikovsky, approaching his 31st birthday and his fifth year at the Moscow Conservatory eagerly accepted Nicholas Rubinstein's suggestion that the time was ripe for an all-Tchaikovsky concert. Such an occasion not only would bring the composer to the attention of the general public but might also augment his meager income. The need to economize ruled out any orchestral works; the necessity for programmatic variety demanded something at least on a slightly larger scale than the piano solos, violin and piano pieces and vocal trio. And since the Russian Musical Society Quartet, led by friend and colleague Ferdinand Laub, offered to participate, Tchaikovsky took advantage of the situation and composed his new Quartet in D major.
Both the concert audience and reviewers were warmly enthusiastic about the whole program, but with the highest praise for the quartet and, in particular, for its slow movement. This Andante cantabile, soon became one of Tchaikovsky's most beloved works. It was based on a folk song Tchaikovsky had heard in a Kamenka baker's shop during an 1869 visit to his sister and brother-in-law. The words were tongue-in-cheek, but the tune was haunting and proved irresistible to Tchaikovsky.
The appeal of the first quartet is not confined to its slow movement alone. Its wealth of wonderful melody and harmony, plus the ingenuity and craftsmanship of a still quite young composer were much admired.
The quartet begins with a long first movement, marked Moderate e semplice. Its character is simple but is full of rhythmic devices which give it a sense of anticipation. The famous Andante begins very quietly and simply in a four part harmonization of the famous melody. Tchaikovsky does not attempt to develop the theme or disguise its natural, simple grace. The brisk Allegro forms the Scherzo of the work. Its strongly syncopated Trio contrasts the rhythmic bounce of the Scherzo proper. The Finale begins Allegro guisto with an energetic theme. There is a dashingly fast and brilliant coda in which fragments explode and are brought to a wild and exciting conclusion.
-- Kendall Durelle Briggs
