Old French Song, Op. 39 No. 16
Old French Song, No. 16 of Tchaikovsky's Album for the Young, Op. 39 (1878), is a wistful tune in G minor and 2/4, Octotune grade 4 of 8. A simple, singing melody moves over quiet held chords in the left hand.
At a glance
| Composer | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner: grade 4 of 8 |
| Key | Key signature: 2 flats (B♭, E♭) |
| Time | 2/4 |
| Tempo | 70 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 33 measures, about 55 seconds |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | B♭3 to F5 |
| Left hand | G2 to G4 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Old French Song (Album for the Young), Op. 39 No. 16 | 4 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
Old French Song is No. 16 of Tchaikovsky's Album for the Young, Op. 39 (1878), the 24 pieces he wrote for young players. It is one of the best loved in the book: a wistful little tune in G minor (two flats, B flat and E flat) and 2/4.
How it is built. It starts on a pick-up, a single D. The tune climbs by step, G A B-flat C, to a long D, then turns around C and E flat and comes back to D. The phrases are short and repeated, so the melody is easy to remember. The left hand holds quiet chords and long bass notes under it, with a few moving eighth notes.
The tricky parts
- Legato. The tune should be smooth and singing, each note joined to the next.
- Dotted quarter notes. The long D is a dotted quarter: count "1 2 and", then the eighth.
- Holding the chords. Keep them down their full length, and quieter than the tune.
- F sharp. G minor's leading note, written in where it appears.
Practice plan
- The tune alone with the Melody level, until you can sing it.
- The left hand alone in Wait for me at the Full level.
- Both hands at 60% speed, then Play along, letting the ends of phrases breathe.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 10, which teaches B flat and F sharp. The E flats go a step beyond it.
Questions
Is Tchaikovsky's Old French Song easy?
It is a Beginner piece, Octotune grade 4 of 8. The tune is simple and singing; the work is in the left hand's held chords and in keeping the melody smooth over them.
Credits and license
- Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
- Typeset by David McNamara for the Mutopia Project
- License: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece