Symphony No. 3 in D Major, “Polish,” Op. 29

Quick Facts

• Written in 1875; premiered the same year in Moscow with the Russian Musical Society conducted by Nikolay Rubenstein
• Dedicated to Vladimir Shilovsky, an artist, poet, musician, and student/ friend of the composer.
  • Tchaikovsky wrote at least part of the score for this symphony while staying at Shilovsky’s estate at Usovo.
• *Five movements¹
• Fun fact: Symphony No. 3 is Tchaikovsky’s only symphony written in a major key and the only symphony to have five movements.

About the Piece

• In contrast to his experience writing the first two symphonies, the process of creating Symphony No. 3 was relatively smooth and quick for Tchaikovsky.
• “Polish” reference
  • The final movement of the symphony is marked “Allegro con fuoco (tempo di Polacca)” or “Fast with fire (tempo of a polonaise).” The existence of the polonaise in the fifth movement led to the symphony’s nickname, “Polish.” However, there isn’t anything else about the work that is distinctly Polish.
    • The polonaise dance was incredibly popular in the 19th century, particularly among the Russian aristocracy.
• Ballet connection
  • George Balanchine used movements 2-5 of Symphony No. 3 for “Diamonds,” part of the choreographer’s three-part masterpiece, Jewels (Balanchine found the first movement, which starts with a slow funeral march, unsuitable for dancing..).
  • Interestingly, just as Tchaikovsky as finishing his third symphony, he was also starting his first ballet Swan Lake, which may offer additional insight into the dance-like character of his third symphony.²

1. “Symphony No.3, Op.29 (Tchaikovsky, Pyotr),” IMSLP, accessed February 9, 2024, https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.3,Op.29(Tchaikovsky,_Pyotr).
2. “The Orchestra Dances: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3,” Houston Symphony (2010), accessed February 9, 2024, https://houstonsymphony.org/tchaikovsky-symphony-3/.