Robert Gauldin, Tragic Love and Musical Memory

Example 5. Unusual features of Tchaikovsky's Bb minor Piano Concerto (1874), which may have provided the bases for Nikolai Rubinstein's negative criticisms, followed by possible "programmatic" explanations relating to his romantic relationship with Artôt.

I. First movement:  5a  5b  5c  5d  5e  5f     II. Second movement:  5g  5h  5i  5j     III. Third movement:  5k  5l
 

a.    Opens with extended "introduction" whose basic key of Db major is NOT the expected tonic of Bb minor, and whose theme NEVER recurs in its original form. -- Opening section constitutes an "exposition" of Tchaikovsky's own acronym ^5 ^3 ^2 ^1, first in tonic and then in the "Love Key" of Db major (in association with Artôt's acronym).