Carnival: February

Instrumentation

Collections

Musical Terms (8)

• Allegro giusto Italian
  Used for February (Carnival) in The Seasons; a steady, well-measured Allegro without excessive speed.
  'Giusto' means 'exact' or 'strict'. The festive character requires rhythmic clarity — avoid rushing the ornamental figuration.
• barcarolle Italian
  A piece in the style of a Venetian gondolier's song; typically in 6/8 or 12/8, rocking gently between bass and melody.
  The rocking accompaniment should feel unhurried, like water. In Tchaikovsky's Barcarolle (June from The Seasons) the melody sings above a steady, arching left-hand pattern.
• capriccioso Italian
  Capricious, whimsical; in a fanciful, unpredictable manner.
  Tchaikovsky uses this marking in several salon-style pieces. Allow rhythmic flexibility and dynamic spontaneity; the character should feel playful, not rigid.
• con fuoco Italian
  With fire; a character marking calling for passionate, energetic intensity.
  Appears frequently in Tchaikovsky's more virtuosic writing. Push dynamics and increase rhythmic drive; the fire should feel impulsive, not mechanical.
• lusingando Italian
  Coaxingly, flatteringly; a tender and insinuating character.
  One of Tchaikovsky's characteristic expression marks. Bring a warm, intimate quality to the phrase, as if persuading rather than declaring.
• tempo di mazurka Italian
  In the tempo of a mazurka; a Polish dance in triple metre typically with an accent on the second or third beat.
  In Tchaikovsky's mazurkas the characteristic rhythmic weight often falls on the second beat. Keep the lift of the dance without making the accent feel heavy.
• tempo di valse Italian
  In waltz time; triple metre with a characteristic one-beat feel per bar.
  Tchaikovsky's waltzes flow with a single broad pulse per measure rather than three separate beats. Allow the first beat to carry the phrase forward while beats two and three remain light.
• teneramente Italian
  Tenderly; with delicacy and affection.
  Common in Tchaikovsky's lyrical slow movements. Keep the tone light and the touch sensitive; avoid over-pedalling which can obscure the tenderness.