3(picc).2.2.2 – 4.2.3.1 – timp.perc – str

Together with Bruckner's abandoned and fragmentary 9th Symphony and Dvoraks Symphony from the New World, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 6 closes the tradition of the romantic symphony. Yet from several points of view, the work also anticipates the orchestral music of the 20th century. The Symphony was no doubt given its nickname Pathétique after the world premiere by Modest Tchaikovsky, the composers brother.