Intermediate
12 Pieces, Op.40
Matched version: Tchaikovsky - Chanson triste (for piano and cello)
2:16
12 Pieces, Op.40 Music Sheet
Explore the 12 Pieces, Op.40 virtual piano sheet and Roblox piano sheet, compare available arrangements, and play online with QWERTY notes. Tchaikovsky's Twelve Pieces, Op.40, moves through a dozen piano scenes without asking them to become a single story. Written in February–April 1878 and published for solo piano, the set includes a Chanson triste, funeral march, mazurkas, waltzes, a Russian dance, and a final interrupted rêverie. The variety is part of the appeal: a short piece can turn toward dance, song, village life, or memory, then leave before the mood settles. The collection's subtitle—pieces of moderate difficulty—keeps the invitation practical, while the music's character shifts from one miniature to the next. Tchaikovsky dedicated the set to his brother Modest, and one of its most recognizable pieces has an earlier life: the Russian Dance adapts material from Swan Lake. That connection is worth keeping precise. Op.40 No.10 is a piano piece in its own right, even as it carries material from the ballet.
About 12 Pieces, Op.40
Explore the 12 Pieces, Op.40 virtual piano sheet and Roblox piano sheet, compare available arrangements, and play online with QWERTY notes.
Tchaikovsky's Twelve Pieces, Op.40, moves through a dozen piano scenes without asking them to become a single story. Written in February–April 1878 and published for solo piano, the set includes a Chanson triste, funeral march, mazurkas, waltzes, a Russian dance, and a final interrupted rêverie.
The variety is part of the appeal: a short piece can turn toward dance, song, village life, or memory, then leave before the mood settles. The collection's subtitle—pieces of moderate difficulty—keeps the invitation practical, while the music's character shifts from one miniature to the next.
Tchaikovsky dedicated the set to his brother Modest, and one of its most recognizable pieces has an earlier life: the Russian Dance adapts material from Swan Lake. That connection is worth keeping precise. Op.40 No.10 is a piano piece in its own right, even as it carries material from the ballet.
Search the library
Common questions
Questions and answers FAQ
When did Tchaikovsky write Twelve Pieces, Op.40?
The set was written between February and April 1878. It was published for solo piano by P. Jurgenson.
Who was Op.40 dedicated to?
Tchaikovsky dedicated the set to his brother Modest Tchaikovsky.
How many pieces are in Op.40?
The work contains twelve pieces, including two mazurkas, two waltzes, Chanson triste, Marche funèbre, Russian Dance, and Rêverie interrompue.
Is Op.40 No.10 related to Swan Lake?
Yes. The Russian Dance, Op.40 No.10, reuses material from a Russian Dance in Swan Lake. The Op.40 version remains a solo-piano piece.
What is the original instrumentation?
The canonical work is written for solo piano. Later arrangements, such as the cello-and-piano version of Chanson triste, are separate versions.