Nyzy (Nizy)
Nyzy (Низи) is a town in
the Sumy district (Сумський район) of Sumy oblast (Сумська область) in Ukraine. During Tchaikovsky's lifetime
it was known as Nizy (Низы),
and formed part of the Sumy district (Сумский уезд) in
the Kharkov province (Харьковский губерния) of the Russian
Empire.
During the 1870s Tchaikovsky regularly stayed in Nizy at the family estate
of his friend Nikolai Kondrat'ev,
and many of his compositions were written there
- early/mid July to early/mid August 1871 — after this first visit the composer
reported he "remained contented by the delightful surroundings and the excellent
weather" [1].
He also completed work on his Guide
to the Practical Study of Harmony, the preface of which was dated 2/14
August 1871.
- 6/18 July to 16/28 July 1872 — returning the next summer, it is likely
that the composer worked on the draft of his
Symphony No. 2 while at
Nizy.
- late May/early June 1873 — the composer called at Nizy on his way from
Moscow to Kamenka, and
caught a severe cold after swimming in a stream.
- around 2/14 June to mid/late July 1874 — beginning work on the opera
Vakula the Smith.
- 2/14 July to 14/26 July 1875 — starting on the instrumentation of the
Symphony No. 3, where he
completed the Finale and Scherzo on 9/21 July and 13/5 July 1875 respectively,
before moving on to Verbovka.
- 28 May/9 June to 31 May/12 June 1876 — spending three days with
Nikolai Kondrat'ev, before
continuing to Kiev.
- 5/17 June to 10/22 June 1878 — travelling from Moscow
with his brother Anatolii,
en route to see their sister
at Kamenka.
- 8/20 August to 10/22 August 1878 — accompanied by his brother
Modest, before travelling
on alone to Brailov.
- 22 June/4 July to 8/20 July 1879 — to attend his old friend Nikolai Bochechkarov,
having received news that he was seriously ill with dropsy (he died on 11/25
August).
A commemorative museum in honour of Tchaikovsky is now situated at Nyzy.
Notes:
- Letter 237 to
Anatolii Tchaikovsky, 3/15
September 1871 [back]
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