In June 1876,
Serbia and the
Ottoman Empire were engaged in the
Serbo-Turkish War (1876–78). Russia openly supported Serbia. The
Russian Musical Society commissioned an orchestral piece from
Tchaikovsky for a concert in aid of the
Red Cross Society, and ultimately for the benefit of wounded Serbian veterans.
[1][2] Many Russians sympathized with their fellow
Slavs and
Orthodox Christians and sent volunteer soldiers and aid to assist Serbia.
Tchaikovsky referred to the piece as his "Serbo-Russian March" while writing it. It was premiered in
Moscow on November 17 [
O.S. November 5] 1876, conducted by
Nikolai Rubinstein.
The march is highly programmatic in its form and organization. The first section describes the oppression of the
Serbs by the Turks. It uses two
Serbian folk songs, "Sunce jarko, ne sijaš jednako" (Bright sun, you do not shine equally),
[3] by Isidor Ćirić and "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike" (Gladly does the Serb become a soldier),
[4] by
Josip Runjanin - giving way to the second section in the relative major key, which describes the Russians rallying to help the Serbs. This is based on a simple melody with the character of a rustic dance which is passed around the orchestra until finally it gives way to a solemn statement of the Russian national anthem "
God Save the Tsar". The third section of the piece is a repeat of Tchaikovsky's furious orchestral climax, reiterating the Serbian cry for help. The final section describes the Russian volunteers marching to assist the
Serbs. It uses a Russian tune, this time in the tonic major key and includes another blazing rendition of "God Save the Tsar" prophesying the triumph of the Slavonic people over tyranny. The overture finishes with a virtuoso coda for the full orchestra.
The piece is frequently paired in performance with Tchaikovsky's "
1812 Overture," which also quotes "God Save the Tsar."
