Music program notes for band and wind ensemble music. Not only is it a masterful blending of literature, music, dance, and visual arts, but also it has been adapted to varying cultures worldwide and is equally beloved by all of them even though the finished products may barely resemble each other. As such, it probably needs no introduction but its going. No wonder that his ballet music is as popular in the concert hall as it is in the theatre. When george balanchine chose the nutcracker as new york city ballets first fulllength ballet, it was a decision that surprised many. Usually, the program format provided information on the composition and a biographical note. Tchaikovskys twoact ballet the nutcracker, with its story taking place on christmas eve, was premiered.
The nutcracker go on a magical adventure with a girl named clara as she is whisked away by a nutcracker prince to the kingdom of sweets. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy. The story of the nutcracker wisconsin public radio. 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. It is also different from other nutcracker stories. 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. Swan lake is, without question, one of the great romantic ballets in the ballet repertoire. Shchelkunchik listen helpinfo is an 1892 twoact ballet fairy ballet. Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the nutcracker ballet in 1891. Before the premiere, tchaikovsky selected eight pieces from the ballet and created the nutcracker suite, op. In the first act of the ballet, claras parents, the stahlbaums, throw a christmas. The march, from the nutcracker, is one of the most wellknown and recognized melodies of tchaikovskys famous ballet. The nutcracker ballet was created at a time in russia when a czar and czarina reigned over an imperial court with all the majesty a monarchy implied. Hoffman, the nutcracker and the mouse king follows the story of marie on christmas eve.
Dance studios the louise reed center for dance 323 north broad street philadelphia, pa 19107. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. Marie is upset and begs to be allowed to care for the nutcracker. Each instrument helps add to the story of the nutcracker, representing different characters from the ballet. Each instrument helps add to the story of the nutcracker, representing diff erent characters from the ballet. This was tchaikovskys last ballet, from which he compiled a. Lansdowne symphony orchestratchaikovsky nutcracker suite program notes. 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. Td waterhouse is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of the nutcracker. Claras godfather announced that he had one more toy for his. There is something for everyone with dancing dolls, swirling snowflakes, glittering flowers and cannon that fires cheese.
Set to music from alfred hitchcocks psycho, plot point contrasts figures presented in familiar narratives with counterparts of fierce physicality. Program notes cpyb central pennsylvania youth ballet. In addition to handels messiah, another work that has become a staple of holiday fare is tchaikovskys nutcracker. For example, a ratchet makes the nutcrackers sound, while the tambourine helps make the dancing dolls come to life. Program notes 1997 by carol meeder, former director of arts education. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful story ballet. Hoffmann, in which young marie stahlbaums favourite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e.
Nov 25, 2019 struggling with the story the nutcracker is based on e. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience. 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. There are several good books out there, but i like telling the story myself with the help of the drawings from a coloring book.
And when the music starts, you can close your eyes and allow visions of sugarplums and snowflakes, flowers and a. For example, an instrument called a ratchet makes the nutcrackers sound, while the tambourine helps make the dancing dolls come to life. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. The original story is a rich and subtly humorous story for children while offering irony and literary allusions that only adults would understand. 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. Hoffmann, a german romantic author of fantasy and horror, composer, music critic, and caricaturist in the tale, young marie stahlbaums favorite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom. The production will offer something for everyone, with live music from our. The nutcracker features many percussion instruments throughout the different dances. Hoffman published the nutcracker and the mouse king, a sinister fairytale intended for adults. The nutcracker balanchine pittsburgh ballet theatre. The dark roots of the nutcracker and the man who wrote. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. Marius petipa, the esteemed and prolific maitre dballet of the st.
Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. Program notes 10311982 manchester symphony orchestra. The story of the nutcracker pac theatre company and in motion dance studio theatre, all ages the story of the nutcracker performances will be presented at the plymouth arts center, 520 e. Jan 02, 2015 nytbs the nutcracker is not the same type of program. That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. Today were going to begin our study of the the nutcracker suite by learning the story and listening to the russian dance. Ill also be teaching you about quarter notes to prepare us for a fun rhythm activity tomorrow. This version, which dates from 2011 and is choreographed by keith michael who also made the companys previous nutcracker, which ran from 19852010, is a small, intimate ballet, obviously intended to be accessible to young audiences. The wenatchee valley symphony orchestra will once again join with the fabulous feet academy of ballet to present tchaikovskys beloved classic, the nutcracker. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by marius petipa. Program notes by phillip huscher piotr tchaikovsky born may 7, 1840, votkinsk, russia. Without the composers marvelous music, the ballet surely would not. For this production, the plymouth arts center is collaborating with the elite inmotion dance studio, plymouth.
Houses are decked with holiday decorations and lit up with festive twinkling lights. Children and adults of all ages will captivated by this beautiful local production. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. The synopsis nycb new york city ballet official site. Tchaikovskys nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most.
Another famous ballet with recognizable melodies is swan lake. It is great for younger students or for anyone who doesnt quite understand ballet. One december night, a very long time ago, a little girl named clara was celebrating christmas eve, in a big way. George balanchines the nutcracker program notes in 1816, e. Shchelkunchik listen help info is an 1892 twoact ballet fairy ballet. 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. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet. 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.
This version included a nefarious godfather, horrific battle scenes between toy soldiers and rats, and indifferent, neglectful parents. If people have not seen or heard of another ballet, they certainly. Td waterhouse is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of. George balanchines the nutcracker program notes pa ballet. After midnight, with nearly everyone asleep, the doll transforms into the prince it had formerly been, and clara. The nutcracker wenatchee valley symphony orchestra. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Buy your tickets here view our program notes here tchaikovsky. He is not easily persuaded to relinquish the cherished doll. Her story stages the american premiere of plot point created by crystal pite, an international dance phenomenon toronto star, familiar to pnb audiences for her spellbinding emergence.
The actual title of the piece is march, but most people refer to it as the nutcracker march. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by. The nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev. Sep 04, 2012 the narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. 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. The dark roots of the nutcracker and the man who wrote it this is the time of year when one mans work is widely if indirectly celebrated. It has endured for more than years, largely due to peter ilyich tchaikovskys score which i consider one of his greatest achievements. 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. The nutcracker is a phenomenon of artistic culture that has no equal. She is nominated as the nutcrackers special caretaker.
Nancy carlson for mpr view full gallery the nutcracker. Large print program notes are available through the generosity of the delmar. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. Alexandre dumas peres adaptation of the story by e. Nytbs the nutcracker is not the same type of program. The choreographer george balanchine once said that dancing was music. Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. I start by telling the students the nutcracker story and playing key pieces of music. Hoffman, is given a nutcracker doll with the appearance of a prince, by her godfather and a magician, drosselmeyer, at a christmas party.
The nutcracker ballet synopsis of the ballet indicates the portion of the program presented at the school show. Hoffmann, adapted by alexandre dumas this was tchaikovskys last ballet, from which he compiled a famous suite of eight numbers for concert performance. Its just one more way were helping communities in canada. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Her story performances in seattle november 312 pnb. Tchaikovsky to compose a doublebill program featuring both an opera and a ballet.
The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that. Cw 14, is a fairy ballet in 2 acts and 3 scenes, written and orchestrated by tchaikovsky between february 1891 and april 1892. 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. 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 nutcracker with the fabulous feet dance studio.
She begs godfather drosselmeyer to give her the nutcracker doll. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet liveabout. The nutcracker features many percussion instruments throughout the diff erent dances. In the celestas ethereal notes, tchaikovsky recognized the voice of.
Tchaikovsky nutcracker suite program notes lansdowne so. For many, peter tchaikovskys the nutcracker is a holiday tradition that sets the tone for the season. On the copy of the manuscript of the plan is petipas note. The story was based on a childrens fairy tale by e. Mill street, downtown plymouth, wi, friday through sunday, dec. The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr.
As she and her siblings are passing the nutcracker around and cracking nuts, its jaw breaks. Overture march dance of the sugarplum fairy russian dance arabian dance chinese dance dance of the reed pipes waltz of the flowers. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. The nutcracker is universally popular, and probably the bestknown of all music. Clara let out a little shriek when she noticed a little mouse peeking out of a hole in the wall. Program notes peter ilyich tchaikovsky composed the ballet the nutcracker in 18911892, based on alexandre dumas adaptation of e. That night, she experiences the nutcracker s battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. When marius petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by alexander dumas, a well known french author. Hoffman german original of 1816, the nutcracker and the mouse king, but alexandre dumas 1844 french adaptation of hoffmans story, histoire dun cassenoisette the tale of the nutcracker.
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