A Functional Analysis of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Opening

Get your paints out and thoroughly mixed because it's going to be a pretty gray. Tchaikovsky had an uncanny knack for drawing out tension sometimes to excess — glorious excess, but a little much. His personality was similarly dramatic. He could be incredibly dramatic, often exuding a sense of intense emotion that permeated his music, much like his own personal life.

The Opening and Its Analysis

The opening of Sleeping Beauty provides an excellent example and an interesting case study. The goal is to arrive at the E major of the Andantino, beginning from a German sixth on C. We find that we are ready for E major after only four measures of music:

In the fifth bar, something curious happens: Instead of resolving this heavily prepared tension to its tonic of E, Tchaikovsky repeats the frantic passage a half-step lower — a direct sequence. This repetition serves as a stark contrast to the previous musical build-up, creating a sense of unease and anticipation.

Then, there is a good deal of faffing about between E flat minor and G minor, using B flat as the linking common tone in a mediant relationship. It’s important to keep in mind that this pitch is also part of the German sixth on C. This turn becomes a necessary agent for the restoration of sanity when, at last, Tchaikovsky reasserts the same cadence with which he began. That’s the overall progression: E flat minor, G minor, German sixth in B, and back to E.

Interpretation and Musical Application

This isn't totally pointless. It sounds cool, but beyond that, we are hearing the music that will be used to represent Egads look what the evil witch has wrought throughout the production. The libretto employs the word Consterné to describe this, and I would say Tchaikovsky’s mediant misadventure fits the bill perfectly. Similar material is used for the clashing of swords and gnashing of teeth in his tone-poem on Romeo and Juliet.

Also, notice how the opening rhythmic figure — pow pow POW 1 2 3 — is used, though softened and sweetened somewhat, as the principal motif to drive the famous waltz Act I No. 6. That's why they paid Tchaikovsky the big bucks for his ability to transform simple motifs into powerful and unforgettable musical themes.

Conclusion and Impact

In conclusion, the opening of Sleeping Beauty is a complex yet intricate musical journey. Tchaikovsky’s use of tension, resolution, and motif development showcases his mastery of functional analysis. The piece not only follows a logical progression but also sets the stage for the emotional and dramatic content that follows. This analysis highlights the innovative and dramatic techniques employed by Tchaikovsky to create a deeply engaging and memorable work.