One of the best known music works, characterised by the introductory thundering chords and heroic piano sounds, which make it stand apart. When Tchaikovsky initially wrote this piece, he dedicated it to his mentor Nikolai Rubinstein, a pianist and director of the Moscow Conservatory. However, when Rubinstein first heard it, he addressed severe criticism to Tchaikovsky and recommended so many changes that the work would need to be redone in order to do the honour to the composer to play it in his concert. Tchaikovsky furiously replied " I will not change a note of it!". And guess who was right. A few years later, Rubinstein changed his mind and actually performed this piece in piano, while Tchaikovsky later thoroughly revised the piano part of the music.
Following the composer's death, the music world further revised his music, sometimes giving it a different character than the one the composer had imagined for his music, which was more lyrical and less aggressive than the posthumous ones. The music incorporates some Ukrainian folkloric music themes that Tchaikovsky must have probably heard in one of his visits to his sister. Its beginning is one of the most memorable themes in classical music, with explosive and dramatic leaps on the piano keyboard, like seagulls leaping adventurously in the sea and then reaching back into the sky again. Later in the music, there are many alternations between heroic and poetic parts: stormy and loud sounds alternate with dreamy, singing-like and joyful melodies, with the passion being always there but expressed differently each time. Imagine flying like a bird across a variety of landscapes, enjoying all sensations and experiences of this journey. Suggested title: "Like birds flying".