Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the nutcracker ballet in 1891. Cw 32, popularly known as the nutcracker suite, in january and february 1892. After all, by the 1950s, the young city ballet had already made a name for itself with abstract, neoclassical works, and not only was the nutcracker as old world as you could get, but audiences had never really warmed to it. Each instrument helps add to the story of the nutcracker, representing different characters from the ballet. This march is one of the most famous melodies of the ballet. Tchaikovskys the nutcracker has become a beloved holiday classic, especially in the united states, where christmastime presentations of the ballet have become a cherished tradition for performers and audiences alike. Spyashaya krasavitsa is a ballet in a prologue and three acts, first performed in 1890. The notestream app includes all the notes youll find in the program book as. As such, it probably needs no introduction but its going. The score was completed in 1889, and is the second of his three ballets. The nutcracker ballet is one of tchaikovskys most enchanting works. It was perhaps this mysterious duality that caused obsidian to be given such an important role in symbolic and magical rites among many cultures including our own. This was tchaikovskys last ballet, from which he compiled a.
Festival ballet theatres the nutcracker program notes by. In contrast to this special status today, the nutcracker. The amount of work pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky was juggling while he simultaneously labored to complete his last ballet, the nutcracker, and subsequently the compilation which was to become popularly known as the nutcracker suite would amaze us today. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a. Each instrument helps add to the story of the nutcracker, representing diff erent characters from the ballet. This version included a nefarious godfather, horrific battle scenes between toy soldiers and rats, and indifferent, neglectful parents. Print instantly, or sync to our free pc, web and mobile apps. Tchaikovskys nutcracker is one of the piccolo players bread and butter works the following material outlines some performance and fingering suggestions, as well as note errata for the reduced orchestra edition of that piece. That is, for children and for adults who are children at heart. The actual title of the piece is march, but most people refer to it as the nutcracker march. Hosted by spacs action council, the nutcracker tea is one of the premier holiday events in the capital region, featuring excerpts of the nutcracker performed by the northeast ballet company. He arranged eight numbers from the ballet in form of a suite for concert use. Program notes on march from the nutcracker by tchaikovsky.
The original story is a rich and subtly humorous story for children while offering irony and literary allusions that only adults would understand. The twoact ballet is based on the book the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e. The nutcracker features many percussion instruments throughout the different dances. The magical music evokes a nostalgic christmas atmosphere. The nutcracker is universally popular, and probably the bestknown of all music. Cw 14, is a fairy ballet in 2 acts and 3 scenes, written and orchestrated by tchaikovsky between february 1891 and april 1892. The nutcracker, released from an enchanted spell, turns into a handsome prince. Selections from the nutcracker were first performed as an orchestral suite in march 1892. Classical notes classical classics tchaikovsky swan. Toledo ballets 79th annual nutcracker toledo symphony.
The nutcracker features many percussion instruments throughout the diff erent dances. Hoffman, is given a nutcracker doll with the appearance of a prince, by her godfather and a magician, drosselmeyer, at a christmas party. When midnight strikes on a chilly, frostdusted christmas eve, clara and her enchanted nutcracker prince are whisked away to a magical world of toy soldiers, mice. As she and her siblings are passing the nutcracker around and cracking nuts, its jaw breaks. Page 4 the nutcracker study guide a young persons guide to the ballet program summary program goals and mission the goal of inland pacific ballets educational outreach program is to present ballet to young people in a way that will have an enduring impact on their lives. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience.
Popular romantic composer of 6 symphones and some of the world most performed ballets including swan lake, the nutcracker and sleeping beauty. Toledo ballets nutcracker comes to life with exquisite dancing, breathtaking scenery, and tchaikovskys beloved score performed live by alain trudel and the toledo symphony. Nutcracker sweets is an arrangement for soloist of five of the most popular movements from tchaikovskys beloved nutcracker ballet suite. After a brief introduction, the dances are presented, onebyone, with brief transitional. Today the story of the young clara, her love for her ugly nutcracker, the growing christmas tree, the battle between the toys and mice, claras role in the release of the enchanted prince from his spell, and the journey through the snow to the kingdom of sweets where the sugar plum fairy reigns as queen, has become famous through live ballet performances, tv, film, cartoons, books, websites, and toys. Tonights program offers a familiar musical work in a somewhat unconventional context. Tchaikovskys nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. For example, an instrument called a ratchet makes the nutcrackers sound, while the tambourine helps make the dancing dolls come to life. The piece is simply called march, or marche in french. George balanchines the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. With the nutcracker, he referred back to the original hoffman tale, adding herr drosselmeiers nephew, the keyhole scene.
This study guide includes resources to prepare children for the performance. Music program notes for band and wind ensemble music. Overture, waltz of the flowers, march, arabian dance, and trepak. After midnight, with nearly everyone asleep, the doll transforms into the prince it had formerly been, and clara aids him in defeating the mouse king who had threatened to take over the house. It has endured for more than years, largely due to peter ilyich tchaikovskys score which i consider one of his greatest achievements. In addition to handels messiah, another work that has become a staple of holiday fare is tchaikovskys nutcracker. The notestream app includes all the notes youll find in the program book as well as images and videos. The actual title of the piece is march, but most people refer to.
The first movement opens with a motto theme that might be identified with providence, if only because it is somewhat less assertive than the. From balanchines lively choreography and the beautiful sets and costumes to tchaikovskys beloved score performed live by the pennsylvania ballet orchestra, theres so much to love in this joyous ballet. Hoffman published the nutcracker and the mouse king, a sinister fairytale intended for adults. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. The amount of work pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky was juggling while he simultaneously labored to complete his last ballet, the nutcracker, and subsequently the compilation which was to become popularly known as the nutcracker suite would amaze us today as much as it overwhelmed the composer himself. In the celestas ethereal notes, tchaikovsky recognized the voice of his sugar plum fairy, and he immediately wrote to his publisher, asking that the instrument be acquired for the performance. Because, if an adult is a good person, in his heart he is still a child. Program notes the nutcracker at our theater is for children young and old. Program notes for upcoming concerts will be posted here a minimum of one week prior to the concert. Program notes from dennis nahat swan lake is, without question, one of the great romantic ballets in the ballet repertoire. George balanchines the nutcracker tv spot 2019 youtube.
Oct 31, 2018 tonights program offers a familiar musical work in a somewhat unconventional context. We encourage you to use the ballet idaho study guide before and after the performance to explore movement and dance, learn about ballet, and discover what happens behind the scenes of a ballet production. George balanchines the nutcracker archives pa ballet. George balanchines the nutcracker program notes pa ballet.
The production is sumptuous, the children entrancing, the music superbly played, the sets and costumes gorgeous. Shchelkunchik listen help info is an 1892 twoact ballet fairy ballet. For example, a ratchet makes the nutcrackers sound, while the tambourine helps make the dancing dolls come to life. Hoffman, the nutcracker and the mouse king follows the story of marie on christmas eve. Marie is upset and begs to be allowed to care for the nutcracker. The program for the first movement and the music of the symphony as a whole suggest a somewhat philosophical acceptance of his nature, coming by the finale to the realization of some peace of mind. Program notes when george balanchine chose the nutcracker as new york city ballets first fulllength ballet, it was a decision that surprised many. Nutcracker study guide, 2012 salt creek ballet page 6 the nutcracker the chance to run him through with his sword. Houses are decked with holiday decorations and lit up with festive twinkling lights. Make memories this holiday season with philadelphias favorite holiday tradition george balanchines the nutcracker. If people have not seen or heard of another ballet, they certainly. Pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky march from the nutcracker. This lively march marche is taken from the famous ballet the nutcracker by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. She is nominated as the nutcrackers special caretaker.
The nutcracker suite whats happening 12 december 2017 the amount of work pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky was juggling while he simultaneously labored to complete his last ballet, the nutcracker, and subsequently the compilation which was to become popularly known as the nutcracker suite would amaze us today as much as it overwhelmed. Classical notes tchaikovsky swan lake, by peter gutmann. Another famous ballet with recognizable melodies is swan lake. This score is an arrangement for easy violin with piano accompaniment. Since 1922, the rochester philharmonic orchestra has demonstrated the power music can have on our community. To close we offer the much anticipated return of the mesmerizing and provocative bill by. The nutcracker leads the toy soldiers into battle with the mice, and marie helps him by throwing her slipper at the fierce mouse king, who the nutcracker then slays. Dec 14, 2019 toledo ballets nutcracker comes to life with exquisite dancing, breathtaking scenery, and tchaikovskys beloved score performed live by alain trudel and the toledo symphony. George balanchines the nutcracker program notes in 1816, e. Following the vancouver success of his masterwork minus 16, the legendary ohad naharin returns to exhilarate audiences with one of his more recent works, hora. Tchaikovsky s nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. Overture march dance of the sugarplum fairy russian dance arabian dance chinese dance dance of the reed pipes waltz of the flowers. The original scenario was conceived by ivan vsevolozhsky, and is based on charles.
The nutcracker has become the most popular ballet performed at christmas, appealing to children and adults alike. Usually, the program format provided information on the composition and a biographical note. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. The nutcracker ballet and suite tchaikovskys magical music. When george balanchine chose the nutcracker as new york city ballets first fulllength ballet, it was a decision that surprised many. The march, from the nutcracker, is one of the most wellknown and recognized melodies of tchaikovskys famous ballet. Oc tech startup notestream has partnered with pacific symphony to bring you digital program notes in an easytoread format via an app for your iphone or ipad. It was the only one of his three ballet suites to have been compiled an published during the composers lifetime. Written for the russian imperial ballet, it was first performed in 1892. The rpo relies on ticket sales and donations to bring music to our community. Festival ballet theatres the nutcracker december 1224, 2015.
The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. When identifying note octaves, i use the flute designations, e. As such, it probably needs no introduction but its going to get one anyway. This is an index, ordered by composer, of the program notes and biographies generated for use in programs for performances of the foothill symphonic winds. A momentous time for ballet bc, we are thrilled to bring together two of the most influential artists in international dance today. Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the nutcracker ballet casse noisette in 1891 and arranged eight numbers from it to form a concert suite. The amount of work pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky was juggling while he simultaneously labored to complete his last ballet, the nutcracker, and subseque. Tchaikovskys swan lake ballet is explored with a synopsis of the basic story, from the perspective of ballet before tchaikovsky, its genesis and initial failure, its revival and ultimate triumph, its acclaimed music. Choose from the nutcracker sheet music for such popular songs as dance of the sugar plum fairy, waltz of the flowers, and march from the nutcracker. Nutcracker suite arr curnow wind repertory project.
Tchaikovsky nutcracker suite program notes lansdowne so. The music was composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky his opus 66. Swan lake is, without question, one of the great romantic ballets in the ballet repertoire. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. The synopsis nycb new york city ballet official site.