From 1875-1878, Tchaikovsky completed his works for violin and orchestra (or accompaniment, later orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov). The Serenade melancolique (1875) displays the composer’s gift for stoic sentimentality, with tender colors from flute and strings. The middle section picks up the tempo and moves to a major key. T composed the Valse-Scherzo (1875) for his friend, student, and admirer, violinist Josif Kotek. The music has an intimate, salon quality, opening with a waltz - T was often called “the Russian waltz-king” - and moves into a playful scherzo. Before the opening material reappears, the violin has a solo cadenza typical of a concerto. Souvenir d’un lieu cher (Memory of a Cherished Spot) (1878) opens with a Meditation in D Minor. Originally, T intended this music for his Violin Concerto. The Meditation modulates into B-flat Major with another elegant melody. Chromatic and even a bit adventurous, the music exhibits how it could have served in the Concerto. The Scherzo is quick and light-hearted, imitating the wit in Mendelssohn’s music. The Melodie is a “song without words” marked “grazioso,” to suggest that T wanted elegance above all.
The Violin Concerto (1878) is T’s major work in this form. The Allegro moderato has a balletic opening, but becomes expansive; the violin writing is brilliant and challenging. The big theme graced the Hollywood film The Right Stuff. The cadenza appears before the recapitulation, just as Mendelssohn had done. The Canzonetta is delicate and the violin is on intimate terms with orchestra. The Finale: Allegro vivacissimo is a fast gypsy dance, with fine duets for clarinet and oboe. When played with all the repeats, the music builds to a ferocious climax.