About this edition
Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17, affectionately nicknamed the "Little Russian" by critic Nikolai Kashkin, stands as one of the composer's most distinctive symphonic achievements — a brilliant fusion of Ukrainian folk melody with the structural rigor of the Western symphonic tradition. From the haunting horn solo that opens the Andante sostenuto (drawn from the folk tune "Down by Mother Volga") to the exhilarating finale built on the Ukrainian folk song "The Crane," the work showcases Tchaikovsky at his most colorful and inventive, earning the enthusiastic praise of "The Mighty Handful" upon its 1873 premiere.
This score reproduces the historic Bessel edition (Paris, ca. 1920, plate W. 8121 B), publisher of the revised Version B that Tchaikovsky completed in 1879–1880. Dissatisfied with the original 1872 score, the composer substantially rewrote the first movement, shortened the finale, and refined the orchestration throughout — and it is this revised version that has remained the standard performing text. Bessel, Tchaikovsky's longtime publisher and a central figure in nineteenth-century Russian music publishing, issued the authoritative engraving of this revision, making it an essential reference for conductors and scholars working with the composer's definitive thoughts on the symphony.
About this edition:
- Format: Full orchestral score (conductor's score)
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Source: Reproduced from a public domain historical edition
- Original publisher: Bessel, Paris, ca. 1920 (Plate W. 8121 B)
- Version: Revised Version B (1879–1880)
- Publisher: Purple 4R Publishing
This edition carefully reproduces a public domain historical score, bringing a landmark of the Russian symphonic repertoire within easy reach of conductors, orchestral musicians, students, and scholars. We hope it serves your study and music-making well.
