Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Two Pieces
Op. 10

About Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky's Two Pieces

The Nocturne and Humoresque were composed in 1872 in Nice, where Tchaikovsky spent a month with Vladimir Shilovsky, an artist, singer, poet and amateur composer who for a time became Tchaikovsky's favorite pupil and chosen traveling companion. Shilovsky helped Tchaikovsky out financially on a number of occasions and financed several European trips for the two of them, which has led to speculation that they might have been lovers. The Humoresque makes use of a popular song Tchaikovsky heard during his stay. Both pieces were dedicated to Shilovsky.