In another of his works, the cello soloist gets progressively faster as he plays seven of the titular Variations (*) on a Rococo Theme.
The Allegro con spirito opening of a composition by this man is disrupted by a minor ninth in the first bar. The finale of this composer's fourth symphony, composed in F minor, features the folk song A Birch Stood in the Meadow; earlier in that work, this composer of Souvenir de Florence uses brasses and bassoons to create a booming first movement "Fate" motive. In another of his works, the cello soloist gets progressively faster as he plays seven of the titular Variations (*) on a Rococo Theme. This composer used "Down on the Mother Volga" to open his second symphony, but this composer of the Pathetique Symphony is best known for a noisy piece that utilizes cannon fire. For 10 points, name this Russian composer of the 1812 Overture.
The Allegro con spirito opening of a composition by this man is disrupted by a minor ninth in the first bar.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky