Composed at the editor’s request and completed in October 1873, the six pieces op.19 for piano were written between the Sextet op.18 and the famous Swan Lake Ballet op.20. Towards 1887, Tchaikovsky transcribed the fourth piece for A Brandoukov (1859-1930). He was a virtuoso cellist and friend of the composer. Written the same year, the “Pezzo capriccioso” is also dedicated to him. On this occasion, Tchaikovsky changed the tonality and added a cadenza before the recapitulation. The transcription for double bass and string quintet by Daniel Marillier and Régis Prudhomme is now in a tonality suited to the bass’s register.
Tchaikovsky’s Nocturne was recorded by Daniel Marillier in this string quintet version by Régis Prudhomme CD : POL 540 163 "INTEGRAL DIstribution.