The Religious Views of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in the Context of his Works

Year 2025, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 83 - 99, 03.12.2025

Stacy Jarvis

https://doi.org/10.26650/meshk.2025.0006

https://izlik.org/JA32MP25TA

Abstract

This article examines Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s religious views and their evolution throughout his career, focusing on his spiritual and musical works, which are now returning to concert life and church choir. This study explores how Tchaikovsky transformed Orthodox chants and analyzes the interaction between liturgical forms and his creative expression. The research used various sources including archival materials, periodicals, encyclopaedias, scientific studies, and sheet music publications. Based on the composer’s diary entries and correspondence, this study examines Tchaikovsky’s religious views, his interactions with Leo Tolstoy, and his contemporaries’ perception of his church music. The research involved reconstructing Tchaikovsky’s religious worldview, identifying his religious repertoire, and analysing his spiritual musical heritage. This article examines Tchaikovsky’s 1882 letter to rector Matvey Luzin regarding Orthodox services. The study focuses on two works: The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (1878) and All-Night Vigil (1882). The relationship between Orthodox worship and individual creative thinking is examined through the transformation of traditional church chants and the structure of the choral cycle. The author explores the contradiction between religious imagery and personal musical language, showing how tradition and innovation combine in Tchaikovsky’s sacred works. Tchaikovsky made significant contributions to the sacred repertoire, influ= encing later Russian composers. He successfully harmonised ancient melodies while preserving their originality. This study enhances the understanding of stylistic dualism in Russian sacred music.

Keywords

Tchaikovsky , Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom , All-Night Vigil , religion in music

Piotr İlyiç Çaykovski’nin eserleri bağlamında dini görüşleri

https://izlik.org/JA32MP25TA

Abstract

Bu makale, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky'nin dini görüşlerini ve kariyeri boyunca bu görüşlerin nasıl geliştiğini incelerken, şu anda konser hayatına ve kilise korosuna geri dönen manevi ve müzikal eserlerine odaklanmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Tchaikovsky'nin Ortodoks ilahilerini nasıl dönüştürdüğünü araştırır ve liturjik formlar ile yaratıcı ifadesinin etkileşi= mini analiz eder. Araştırma, arşiv materyalleri, süreli yayınlar, ansiklopediler, bilimsel çalışmalar ve nota yayınları gibi çeşitli kaynaklardan yararlanmıştır. Bestecinin günlük kayıtları ve yazışmalarına dayanan çalışma, Çaykovski'nin dini görüşlerini, Leo Tolstoy ile etkileşimlerini ve çağdaşlarının onun kilise müziğine bakışını incelemektedir. Araştırma, Çaykovski'nin dini dünya görüşünü yeniden inşa etmek, dini repertuarını belirlemek ve manevi müzik mirasını analiz etmekten oluşmaktadır. Makale, Çaykovski'nin 1882 yılında rektör Matvey Luzin'e Ortodoks ayinleri hakkında yazdığı mektubu incelemektedir. Çalışma, iki esere odaklanmaktadır: Aziz John Chrysostom Liturjisi (1878) ve Tüm Gece Ayini (1882). Ortodoks ibadeti ile bireysel yaratıcı düşünce arasındaki ilişki, geleneksel kilise ilahilerinin dönüşümü ve koro döngüsünün yapısı aracılığıyla incelenmektedir. Yazar, dini imgeler ile kişisel müzik dili arasındaki çelişkiyi araştırarak, Çaykovski'nin kutsal eserlerinde gelenek ve yeniliğin nasıl bir araya geldiğini göstermektedir. Çaykovski, kutsal repertuara önemli katkılarda bulunarak sonraki Rus bestecileri etkilemiştir. Eski melodileri orijinalliklerini koruyarak başarıyla uyumlaştırmıştır. Bu çalışma, Rus kutsal müziğindeki stilistik dualizmin anlaşılmasını kolaylaştırmaktadır.

Keywords

Çaykovski , Aziz John Chrysostom Ayini , All-Night Vigil , müzikte din

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