Spelling Bee

August 2, 2004 at 06:04 AM · I've seen Tchaikowski in one of my dad's piano collections

August 2, 2004 at 07:30 AM · Apparently in Russian the spelling is something like CHAIKOVSKII. At least, that's what I think the professor said in this class that I dropped... (this was many years ago and it was early in the morning, so this may be a mistake)

I also learned (somewhere) that "v" and "ff" are interchangeable in Russian names, so Rachmaninoff = Rachmaninov, Prokofiev = Prokofieff, etc. Never seen Tchaikoffsky, though.

But in a French music magazine I once saw CHOSTAKOVITCH.

August 2, 2004 at 07:34 PM · Ah, Rachmaninov is the one I missed out! Sorry, Rach. I'm sure I've seen Shostakowic or something.

August 2, 2004 at 10:53 PM · I dunno, that Tchaik. with a "W" always bothered me..and my grandfather was from Russia, you'd think I'd know better..

August 3, 2004 at 11:47 AM · Tschaikowski

August 3, 2004 at 03:05 PM · Tchaikovsky

Tsjaikovskij

Tsjaikovsky

Tjaikovskij

Tschaikowsky

Chaikovskii

Cajkovskij

There we have just a few more samples... The "j" ones really get to me, but in order to find much on Tchaik in RILM (periodical database) you have to use the Cajkovskij spelling!

'Erie (-:

August 3, 2004 at 05:27 PM · Lol... d'you think this is why so many of us commonly refer to him as Tchaik, just to avoid a debate?

August 3, 2004 at 07:54 PM · Now, a sidenote on pronunciation.

Lots of people say Tchaikovsky like, "Chai-kov-ski". However, it's really "Shai-kov-ski".

August 4, 2004 at 12:27 AM · Oh, don't get us started on pronunciations! (when I was little I used to say "Prokefiev" with a long 'e'..I finally realized there was an 'o' in there and now say it correctly as an adult). Part of my need to "compose" I guess.

August 4, 2004 at 08:40 PM · A conductor I had a few years back got mad whenever he heard "KabaLevsky." Rather, he said, that it was "KabaYevsky."

August 5, 2004 at 03:51 AM · About Tchaikovsky... (I know Russian, because I was born and studied the violin in Byelorussia, or White Russia) Never ever say Sajkovskij! It is not the very bad word, but sounds like you want to describe a person who does nothing. The most correct pronounciation gave Matt: Chai-kov-ski, but not Shaikovski. It sounds funny.

Cindy, your conductor is not right. Kabalevski, but not Kabayevsky. Probably, he heard it from a person who has speech problems. Mister Brucie, "V" and "ff" letters at the end of word are sounded similliar, therefore in Russian we should write Prokofiev, Rachmaninov. So both version are correct. About "ii" at the end... It has sence, because second "i" represents Short letter "i" which always written after first "i" at the end of last name. I would change "ii" to "iy". But we don't pronounce it.