Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48

About the work

Composed in 1880, alongside the 1812 Overture — though Tchaikovsky's regard for the two could not have differed more: he called the Serenade a piece written from inner impulse and the Overture worthless. The solemn chords that open the first movement are an homage to Mozart and return unchanged at the very end. The second movement is a waltz, and the finale draws on two Russian folk tunes.

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