The Rite of Spring – Ballet Version
The Rite of Spring opens with a mixture of aerophones in a mysterious intertwining of polyphonic melodies that creates a sense of mystery and suspense drawing the listener into its hypnotic, frantic, seemingly unstructured calls and responses. This is an excellent opening for the dancers. Rhythmic stabs of the violins are accompanied by perfectly synchronized jumping. The dynamics were consistently loud with thick textures in most of the opening scene. When the tempo slowed the dynamics followed with a lower volume. A more homophonic texture was observed with a call and response section between the horns and the violins. Gongs splashed as the horns played melodies that felt out of tune to create tension that
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When the curtains opened the horns played a grand descending melody, which filled the room with a sense of grandeur. Arriving at the prince’s home, melodic motifs from the original scene were heard in slightly modified forms. Syncopated idiophones snapped in the background that gave the music a Latin swing. This was followed a slow homophonic duo of high and low chordophones. Double bases played a droning melody that supported the violins. Aerophones played a joining melody in between phrases of the …show more content…
Then, one of the most recognizable violin melodies from the entire ballet shot through the theater like a galloping horse as three dancers moved along with the fast pace. The staccato violin patterns matched the flutes. After, the harp played an enchanting melody as the dancers moved in perfect ballroom form. The rhythms and the music were like a perfectly symmetric pattern of a kaleidoscope. The melody of the aerophones and chordophones were instantly recognizable, catchy, and worked together in a call and response pattern. Intensity grew and grew until the final blast of the aerophones ended the ballet.
My favorite part of the ballet was when Clara was given nutcracker. The music matched the mood of the scene as it emulated the childhood joy and energy. The dynamics increased in intensity when the children struggled for the nutcracker only to return to a thin texture when it was repaired and returned to Clara.
The Rite of Spring – Disney
The next work of the program, Courtly Airs and Dances, is a multi-movement work composed by Ron Nelson. The piece is split into six movements: Intrada, Basse Danse, Pavane, Saltarello, Sarabande, and Allemande. Each of these present distinct characteristics that separate it from each other movement, yet all are united by being a style of dance. The first movement, Intrada, presents a fanfare-like opening to the multi-movement work. The trumpets and brass section as a whole lead this, as they create a sense of nobility. The key is major and the tempo is one that could be described as allegretto—it is not a fast tempo, yet more brisk than an andante pace. The texture is homophonic, as there are different parts being performed by different
Every dance that is created by a choreographer has a meaning and or purpose behind it. The dance choreographed could be used to send a political, emotional, or a social message. Regardless of the message being sent, each dance created possesses a unique cultural and human significance. This essay will examine and analyze two dance works from history and give an insight into what each dance work provided to the society of its time.
First, the entire band had good and bad moments of its performance of Second Suite in F. First, the intonation of the piece fluctuated. During the parts of the music when the entire band played, like in measures 11 through 18, the intonation was impeccable considering the high temperature of the stage. However, parts of the work where most instruments dropped out, like measures 19 to 26, were not quite in tune. Next, the balance and blend was perfect except for a few specific parts. During measures 79 to 109, the trumpets stuck out too much and did not blend in w...
...se on both the tenor and alto flute, one an octave higher than the other. While the return of the verse and the flute’s soothing sound give this ending a vague happy feeling, the contrast between the flutes’ pitches and timbres cannot help but leave the listener with a feeling of tension and apprehension over what will ensue.
The piano plays the main themes, and it was absent from playing before. The piano plays two octaves in the treble register. There is a viola in the background playing a counter melody, which slows towards
Overall time helped demonstrated the masses’ movement unity as they moved with the time and the individual’s struggle as she moved contrary to the group’s time. The dance began with a lively Bach movement, which created a feeling of excitement as the mass of dancers moved with increasing speed. The short duration needed to complete movements, regularity of the music, and repetition of dance patterns of the group established their synchronization with time. In contrast, this allegro tempo created a nervous, rushed feeling for the individual woman, which established her contradiction to the groups perception of time. The sharp, sudden adagio tempo change in Part 2 created an uneasy mood, while establishing distrust and tension between the individual woman and the masses. The stillness of the mass dancers in response to the woman in Part 2 exemplified this segregation. As the tempo slowed in Part 4, an element of sadness and isolation was apparent in the individual woman’s movement. In contrast, this tempo change for the group created an intimacy between the individual heterosexual couples. This intimacy further isolated the individual women and demonstrated her movement against groups perception of time. The changes in tempo of music and dance movement complimented the third element of dance, dynamics or
'It seems to me, my dear friend, that the music of this ballet will be one of my best creations. The subject is so poetic, so grateful for music, that 1 have worked on it with enthusiasm and written it with the warmth and enthusiasm upon which the worth of a composition always depends." - Tchaikovsky, to Nadia von Meck.
This piece was based slightly on swing dancing as apparent in the costumes and choreography. The choreographer of this was Joshua L. Peugh. The composers of the music used are Tommy Duncan, Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, and Bob Wills. My favorite part of the piece was when one of the performers walked across the stage carrying a cactus that would get bigger each time she walked across the stage. This both helped separate each small dance from each other but also added a sense of comedy and a familiar transition throughout the piece for the audience. The performer did this five times and by the final entrance the cactus was easily clearing her head. I liked how this piece from group dances to couple dances and flowed very well. The overall mood of this dance was lively and fun. Another moment that stood out was when the strings of lights came out at the final of the piece. This added a touch of warmth and added to the swing, country feel of the dance. Because I am classically trained in ballet, I appreciate turn out and piles between steps; however, I thought that this piece successfully told a story. It seemed very well rehearsed and the effort put in showed. The dancers portrayed the emotions of the piece as well. I especially thought the costumes were very fitting to the theme as well as the
...re was very interesting transitions between the variation, for example, string section plays the variation from low to high, when they reach the highest note, the brass family takes over and continue with the scale and make it more higher. Tremolo style was used in this piece, which is a quick ups and downs stroke mode. The music were very soothing and attracted the audience. Lastly, they end the piece with the same variations that was played at the beginning.
... then plays allegro passages of semi quavers, accompanied by timpani and descending scales in the woodwind. The clarinet, takes over the main melody whilst the cello accompanies with sequences. The French horn takes over the melody, accompanied by the strings. The flute briefly plays the melody before the cello plays octaves, accompanying the woodwind as they play a reprise of the DSCH theme and the timpani crashes. Repeating the themes in the first movement, the cello plays the DSCH motif followed by the "tate ta, tate ta" rhythm in the strings. The horn then plays the theme in augmentation, whilst the cello plays passages of ascending and descending scales, and the theme is heard again in the strings. The movement builds up with the motif appearing increasingly often in the woodwind and strings and climaxes with octaves by the soloist and a boom from the timpani.
...chestral introduction with an imperfect cadence. A strong rhythmic ¾ allegro passage, with sequences and descending scales is played by the orchestra, with timpani and cymbals. The music modulates, and a short, quiet woodwind passage is then alternated with an orchestral passage with dotted rhythms, creating a `terraced dynamics' effect. Part B begins with a major clarinet melody accompanied by pizzicato strings. A minor flute sequence follows, and is followed by a repetition of the oboe melody. A string sequence is then played, imitated by the oboe. There is a crescendo, then the rhythmic orchestral melody returns, alternated with a short flute passage. There are suspensions, descending scales and a crescendo, followed by a strong rhythmic passage with the timpani playing on the beat. Imperfect cadences are played, before the piece finishes with a perfect cadence.
Ballet is a popular dance form that originated in the 1500s around the time of the renaissance. It consists of many different forms that have evolved over the years. Some examples of these forms include French Ballet, Vaganova (Russian Ballet), Cecchetti (Italian Ballet), and Balanchine. Ballet forms and variations originated mainly from Italy, Russia, and France. However, today, many different forms of Ballet exist. Despite the many different variations, all Ballet has certain things in common. It is an effective form of exercise, requires special equipment, contains many set principles, and can result in specific injuries.
..., intensity, and length. The entire movement had a feeling of rising to a maximum point which could not be surpassed. In the third movement the flute and the piano played together and played nearly the same thing, with the exception of the flutes higher notes. This to had an increasing in intensity and tempo.
The music here is still dark and gloomy, but is intensified with strings playing back and forth higher and higher notes until she jumps and Newt catches her. The strings then play a trickle of notes showing Newt and Tina running out of the room. The horns enter playing low rushed notes mimicking the quick walking by Jacob and Queenie, who have just stolen back Newts briefcase and wand, and also the running by Newt and Tina. While Newt and Tina are trying to find their way out two men shoot at them with their wands and the horns play a very Indiana Jones like rhythm. The music then changes to a gloomier sound showing Graves, a bad guy.
However, in this ballet concert, the choreographer had designed the scenes to be more like a comedy. The movement of the sisters are more amusing than cruel. For example, when they pulled each other for being eager to dance with the prince, or when they tried to hurt and bully the Cinderella, these movements are not that cruel but amusing. Even the stepmother was drunk and danced comically in the prom scene. Moreover, the movements of all the girls who wanted their feet to fit in to the ballet shoe which Cinderella had dropped in the prom are also very funny. These kinds of design successfully made the audience laugh out loud and without hurting the hearts of the little girls who went to see the performance with their