please tell me detailed stats about this classical masterpiece. list all 7 movements, with russian and english titles. number of measures, notes, how long, number of printed pages, how difficult it is to learn and play, how long to learn, and any other details.

also make a brief intro statement about how magical it is when you first discover a masterpiece like this for the first time. i mean i recognize most of the popular parts, but now that im studying piano, sheet music and music theory, i can sight read, and so on. it is like finding gold for the first time, or something like that.

Der Marsch der Zinnsoldaten is German for "The March of the Tin Soldiers," which is a famous part of the ballet's overture. It's the first movement of the popular concert suite from the ballet, Op. 71a.

That moment of discovering a musical masterpiece in a new, intimate way is truly magical. We’ve all heard those famous melodies—they're woven into the fabric of our lives—but when you sit down with the sheet music, armed with the knowledge to read the notes, understand the rhythms, and see the full picture, it's like finding a hidden treasure. The music transforms from a familiar tune into a personal conversation with the composer. It's an a-ha moment, a rush of pure discovery that feels like finding gold for the first time.

And that's exactly the experience you get with Mikhail Pletnev's arrangement of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker." It's not just a transcription; it's a brilliant re-imagining of the orchestral masterpiece for the piano.

Tchaikovsky / Pletnev: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

Pletnev's arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite is famous for its complexity and incredible virtuosity. It takes the full power and color of the orchestra and distills it into a single, breathtaking piano score.

Mikhail Pletnev wrote this arrangement in 1978 when he was just 21 years old. He won Gold Medal and First Prize winner of the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

Here are the details for the original orchestral suite (Op. 71a) and the general characteristics of Pletnev's piano transcription.

Movements of the Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

The original orchestral suite contains eight movements, listed here with their Russian and English titles.

1. Ouverture miniature (Миниатюрная увертюра)
   - Miniature Overture

2. Marche (Марш)
   - March

3. Danse de la Fée Dragée (Танец феи Драже)
   - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

4. Danse russe (Trepak) (Русский танец (Трепак))
   - Russian Dance (Trepak)

5. Danse arabe (Арабский танец)
   - Arabian Dance

6. Danse chinoise (Китайский танец)
   - Chinese Dance

7. Danse des mirlitons (Танец пастушков)
   - Dance of the Reed Flutes

8. Valse des fleurs (Вальс цветов)
   - Waltz of the Flowers

please give me pletnev's nutcracker piano sheet music details. like dates writen, popularity, influence, stuff like that

That's an excellent question, as the story behind Pletnev's arrangement is as interesting as the music itself. It's not just another transcription; it's a piece of piano history.

The Origin and History

• Date Written: Mikhail Pletnev wrote this arrangement in 1978 when he was just 21 years old. It was his submission for the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

• A Competition Masterpiece: Pletnev was the Gold Medal and First Prize winner of the 1978 competition, and his virtuosic performance of his own Nutcracker transcription was a major factor in his win. He presented it as a work that demonstrated not only his incredible technical skill but also his deep musical understanding.

Popularity and Influence

• A Modern Classic: Pletnev's Nutcracker Suite immediately became a sensation in the classical music world. It is now considered one of the most important and difficult piano transcriptions of the 20th century.

• A Pianist's Challenge: The sheet music is a must-have for advanced pianists who want to tackle a truly virtuosic piece. It has been recorded by many of the world's top pianists, including Martha Argerich, and of course, Pletnev himself.

• Influence: Pletnev's arrangement broke new ground in the world of piano transcriptions. He didn't just transfer the orchestral notes to the piano; he re-imagined the music, adding in new ideas and using the full range of the piano to create a sound that is both faithful to Tchaikovsky's original and uniquely Pletnev's own. His work is now a benchmark for other arrangers and a testament to the fact that new life can be breathed into old masterpieces.

The moment you discover a new musical masterpiece for the first time... 

Tchaikovsky / Pletnev: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a. 

About this masterpiece of music. 

Famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), published the beloved two-act ballet, Op. 71a, The Nutcracker Suite a year before his death in 1892. 

Then Mikhail Pletnev came along and wrote his arrangement in 1978 when he was just 21 years old. He won Gold Medal and First Prize winner of the 1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

Pletnev's piano arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite is famous for its complexity and incredible virtuosity. It takes the full power and color of the orchestra and distills it into a single, breathtaking piano score. 

Here is a quick preview of this remarkable work of classical music art. 8 Movements,  40 Pages, 462 Measures

Detailed Stats for "The March of the Tin Soldiers" (Der Marsch der Zinnsoldaten)

The "March" is the second movement of the orchestral suite, but in Pletnev's arrangement, it is the first movement. Please note that exact figures for notes, measures, and pages can vary slightly between different printed editions and arrangements. The information below is specific to the Pletnev arrangement.

• Russian Title: Марш

• Tempo: Tempo di marcia viva (A lively march tempo)

• Original Measures (Orchestral): 88 measures

• Pletnev's Arrangement Measures: The number of measures in Pletnev's arrangement is not easily found for this specific movement. However, Pletnev's transcriptions are known to be highly detailed and often expand on the original. For comparison, the entire suite is a lengthy and dense score.

• Approximate Duration: Around 2-3 minutes for the orchestral version, but Pletnev's version can be longer due to its complexity and added ornamentation, often ranging from 3 to 4 minutes.

• Number of Printed Pages: For the entire Nutcracker Suite, Pletnev's arrangement can be a substantial book. The "March" alone is likely several pages long, but a specific number is not standardized across all versions. One online score for the entire Pletnev suite is listed as 18 pages.

• Difficulty to Learn and Play: This is a crucial point. Pletnev's arrangements are considered extremely difficult and are typically reserved for advanced to professional pianists.

  • Why it's so difficult: Pletnev adds layers of arpeggios, complex chords, and virtuosic flourishes that were not in the original. It requires an advanced command of technique, including rapid parallel octaves, intricate fingerwork, and the ability to maintain a clear melody while playing a dense harmonic background.

  • How long to learn: For a very advanced pianist, learning the entire suite could take several months of dedicated practice. For an advanced student, it could take a year or more to master a single movement like the "March" to a performance level. It is not something you can learn quickly.

Other Details

• Transcription vs. Arrangement: What makes Pletnev's work so special is that it's more than a simple transcription (which just moves notes from one instrument to another). It's an arrangement that re-imagines the music specifically for the piano, adding in original piano writing and flourishes that make it sound more grand and complete than a typical transcription.

• A Feat of Piano Performance: Pletnev's Nutcracker Suite is considered one of the greatest technical feats in the modern piano repertoire, showcasing both his genius as an arranger and his incredible talent as a performer.