23 in A, I.Allegro. On the copy of the manuscript of the plan is Petipa's note: "This was sent on 9 March 1891 [O.S.] As angels and delightful music hover over their heads, the bed turns into a magical sleigh, floating higher and higher. The author's sketch book includes two dates23 February/7 March and 27 February/11 Marchwhich allows us to establish that on these days he finished the scene with Drosselmeyer, and wrote the scene with the children and the Nutcracker (No. This work was carried out at the end of August 1892 [47]. Change). Tchaikovsky stayed in Saint Petersburg until 11/23 February, where, evidently, he received the choreographer Marius Petipa's manuscript plan of the first act of the ballet, which was dated "5 February 1891" [O.S.] In the Pas de deux, Tchaikovsky omitted the male variation, and on a blank page he wrote: "Transfer from the 1st act (formerly the tarantella) but tone lower", and wrote out the first two bars. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, Op. Though everyone is familiar with the "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies," less are certain why those sugarplum fairies are dancing in the first place. He produces these from a large cabbage and from a large pie, much to the children's delight. The dolls spring to life, and gingerbread soldiers left over from tea begin to march to and fro. No! The Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince, and he offers Clara a journey to his kingdom. After a final waltz between the fairy and her cavalier, Clara awakes to find herself by the Christmas tree with her nutcracker. Letters to various correspondents during June refer to work on the ballet. Unlike pliers, the pivot point is located at the end beyond the nut, rather than in the middle. At bar 5 we move to a three layer texture: Layer 1: Melody harmonized in thirds in the violins. Returning to Frolovskoye on 22 February/6 March, Tchaikovsky made notes in his sketchbook after the start of the Trepak: "Not finished, because during a visit to Saint Petersburg I learned that Vsevolozhsky did not want dances here and, probably, they will be carried over to the 2nd act". A nutcracker is a tool designed to open nuts by cracking their shells. It is Christmas Eve in the home of President Silberhaus of the Town Council and his children, Clara and Fritz (Scene 1). The Grandfather dance is based on a German dance tune from the 17th century. Lastly, another very famous one of this set. I want to pass on to you some ideas for the ballet, which do not fit in with Petipa's scheme. A complete performance of The Nutcracker lasts around 90 minutes. 'The Nutcracker' Ballet: A Guide - LiveAbout The room grows in size and suddenly a mouse army, led by a crowned mouse king, circles the room. Ravel Piano Concerto in G, III. Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker has enchanted audiences around the world for over a century, but what is the secret to its enduring popularity? She tries to run away, but her legs will not carry her. The mouse army carries him away. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It's this version that was turned into a ballet. Left and center are more recent models, depicting a Swiss knight and an American soldier. The music in "The Nutcracker" was composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Another orchestral colour unfamiliar to Tchaikovskys audience was the purring of flutter-tongued flutes, a technique he had recently learned from a flautist who had once been his harmony student: he used this sound to depict the cascading river of Rose essence which greets the arrival of Clara and her Nutcracker prince in Act II. It is a Russian dance featuring squat-kicks and an energetic rhythm. It is rare and genuine and does justice to the private world of children.. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy. The Nutcracker Suite, Op. Tchaikovsky's unfavourable attitude to the using The Nutcracker for a ballet scenario is reflected in a letter from Ivan Vsevolozhsky to Tchaikovsky of 9/21 August 1891: "I have experienced agonies of remorse for asking you to do this ballet. No sooner had the ink dried than he received news that his beloved sister, Sasha, had died. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. During the celebration, Godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. Courtney has ten years of instructional experience in a classroom. Listen for the english horn at 0:44 tiny little part, but its a nicely contrasting tone color amid all the light and airy bounciness going on. (LogOut/ You've Never Seen a 'Nutcracker' Like This | TDF Stages | TDF - Theatre Hoffmann wrote the story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" in 1816. She has an undergraduate degree from Penn State University in Animal Bioscience, a master's degree from Arcadia University in Secondary Education, and is currently pursuing her second master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University. The Nutcracker Suite, Op. No one knows who came up with the idea. "On 9th May [O.S.] Set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazzy interpretation of Tchaikovsky's iconic score, The Nutcracker Suite is the largest work Dorrance's . 17 chapters | She is thanked profusely. The principal performers were: Stanislava Belinskaya (Clara), Sergey Legat (Nutcracker), Timofey Stukolkin (Drosselmeyer), Feliks Kshesinsky (Silberhaus), Augusta Ogoleit (Frau Silberhaus), Vasily Stukolkin (Fritz), Antonietta Dell'Era (Sugar-Plum Fairy) and Pavel Gerdt (Nutcracker). On 25 March/6 April he wrote to Jurgenson: "I've finished the ballet; all that remains is to insert the markings and put it in order" [46]. As the grand finale, a regal cavalier dances with the Sugar Plum Fairy. First performance: 19 March 1892, St. Petersburg, Russia. Vsevolozhsky naturally wrote back reassuring Tchaikovsky that everything could be postponed a year. Analysis - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy The entire court joins in the final waltz, and the curtain falls on a final tribute to Clara [8]. Presto, 16. After that, we get started, when the french horns begin the real waltz part. After finding it, Clara falls asleep with the nutcracker in her arms and begins a long, mystical dream. Learn about "The Nutcracker" ballet and its music and story. In any case, the balletmaster's plan of this act was sent to Tchaikovsky only while he was abroad. 71 ( TH 14 ; W 14), is a fairy ballet in 2 acts and 3 scenes, written and orchestrated by Tchaikovsky between February 1891 and April 1892. Tchaikovsky was a Russian civil servant who entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory to study. The fact that it was originally to be staged as part of a double bill with Yolanta might also explain the ballets length, yet there was nothing in the contract Tchaikovsky signed to suggest that the two works should be indissolubly linked, and after the initial run of performances the opera and ballet went their separate ways. Relieved of this immediate burden, Tchaikovsky fulfilled his tour (obliged by having already spent a good part of a generous advance). Though the original dance was unsuccessful, minus Tchaikovsky's instant classic score, the ballet grew in popularity over the 20th century to become the Yuletide staple it is today. A carver created a colorful puppet that could crack nuts with its jaws. Experience the magic of the holidays as it comes to life on stage in the Nutcracker! "The Nutcracker Suite" is a compilation of the highlights from The Nutcracker. After everyone has gone to bed Clara comes down to see her Nutcracker, which seems to be giving off a mysterious light. Mozart Wrap-up and furtherlistening, 3. A one-time diplomat, Vsevolozhsky had developed his love for French culture (shared by Tchaikovsky) and particularly ballet while posted in Paris. 71a, 5. Tchaikovsky soon developed this private entertainment into a full-length ballet, Swan Lake. Mozart Piano Concerto No. Tchaikovsky's original score contains an overture and 15 numbers. He also had a gift for drawing and design: rumour had it that his diplomatic career was wrecked by his talent as a caricaturist, which he applied to all, regardless of rank. Selections from The Nutcracker were first performed as an orchestral suite in March 1892. Tchaikovsky and Vsevolozhsky had planned from the outset that children would play a major role in The Nutcracker, a highly unusual and controversial decision for that time. What went wrong? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The libretto was compiled by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Marius Petipa [6], after the story of Histoire d'un Casse-Noisette (1845) by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), which was an adaptation from the German of Der Nuknacker und Mauseknig (1816) by E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822) [7]. The Nutcracker returns and suddenly turns into a Prince, who looks just like Drosselmeyer's nephew. But their gauntlet was triumphantly taken up in the 20th century, particularly in the US, with its love of child-friendly fantasies such as The Wizard of Oz, and in Soviet Russia where investment in young talent resulted, and still continues, in producing many fine child dancers. Beside a river of rose water, Clara and the Prince appear and are welcomed in the Great Hall of the palace. The beard and hair is usually rabbit fur. He goes to the dead Mouse King and . Clara wakes, but something's different! Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Before we learn about the composer and the music, let's learn about what happens. Hoffmann, and an interpretation of Hoffman's story written by Alexandre Dumas. Heinrich Hoffmann, best known as the creator of the children's book "Der Struwwelpeter" (Shaggy Peter), also wrote his own version of E.T.A Hoffmann's story. Trepak (The Nutcracker) - Wikipedia 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. The Nutcracker - Presented by Texture Ballet School And the music for the Nutcracker, arranged into an orchestral suite, is a beloved standard at concerts. Display of nutcracker dolls Collection of fairy tale nutcrackers Nutcracker dolls, also known as Christmas nutcrackers, are decorative nutcracker figurines most commonly made to resemble a toy soldier. He is also well known for composing the music to the ballet "Swan Lake". Dances from Spain, Arabia, China and Russia are followed by a shepherds' pastoral dance, using toy flutes. "March of the Toy Soldiers" is arguably one of the most recognizable songs from The Nutcracker. Act I, No. The Suite from the ballet The Nutcracker was compiled as a substitute for the symphonic ballad The Voyevoda on the programme of a Russian Musical Society concert in Saint Petersburg scheduled for 29 February/12 March 1892, at which Tchaikovsky was due to conduct his own works. (LogOut/ When the young Claras eccentric godfather, Drosselmeyer, drops in bearing gifts, it is clear this will be a Christmas like no other. Reception to the ballet was mixed when it opened in 1892, but now it is one of the most popular ballets in the world. In large amounts this is unbearable. Worse still was the battle between the mice and the toys. Everyone then bids the nutcracker and Clara goodnight, and the wonderful scene disappears. Tchaikovsky then asked Vsevolozhsky whether the productions of the ballet and opera could be postponed until the next season: "I could complete my voyage to America without the torments, the doubts, and the fears; return home calm and rested from any conceivable traumas experienced in Paris and America, and enjoy working little by little, confident that I will be writing two masterpieces (pardon my immodesty)" [30]. The Story Behind Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite' - uDiscover Music - Definition & Examples, The Four Seasons by Vivaldi: Analysis & Structure, What is Contrapuntal Music? Yet The Nutcracker has become the most beloved of all ballets, a regular Christmas production on almost every major stage, especially in the United States where it has become as much a part of American tradition as the German Christmas tree. Evidently, in Rouen Tchaikovsky resumed work on 31 March/12 April. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Synopsis of Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker' Ballet - LiveAbout Russian Dance (Trepak). Some critics found the choreography chaotic and the performances inconsistent. Dolls and soldiers join in battle with the mice, who overwhelm the soldiers. The origin of the Nutcracker, a classic Christmas Story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a family's Christmas Eve celebration. Today, the decorative Christmas figures are collected by people all over the world. During this time he wrote the opening of the second scene, and the numbers he had previously omitted from the first scene of Act 1: Petit galop des enfants, Entre des parents, "Bon voyage, M-r Dumolet"; then there followed sketches for the Grossvater dance and some additions to the dance of the Incroyables [29]. If youre wondering, that instrument is a celesta a relative of a piano where the hammers, instead of hitting strings, hit metal plates, like a metal xylophone. Keeping watch over the Land of Sweets in the Nutcracker's absence was the Sugar Plum Fairy. 2 (marchentrance of the children), after which came a number of characteristic dances: Chinese and Spanish dances, a tarantella, an English dance ("Gigue") [15], and the start of a Trepak. Early in 1891, Tchaikovsky was working against the clock to compose both Nutcracker and an opera with which it was to be double-billed, Yolanta, before an imminent tour in the US. After finishing the sketches of the ballet, Tchaikovsky left to spend some days in Saint Petersburg, and on his return he began to compose the opera Iolanta, and also to correct the full score of the opera Yevgeny Onegin. Hoffmann's original story was darker than the ballet, but the plot remains largely the same. He described how wooden nutcrackers were carved as protective figures of strength and power. All the solos and variations he devised for the first act would be of little interest to the public. Hoffmann wrote the story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" in 1816. Petipa had fallen ill, and the choreography was instead devised by his less-inspired assistant. After The Mouse King falls, The Nutcracker removes his crown and places it on Clara's head. And I have been here nearly a week, working all hours; two days remain before I sail for America. A general dance follows, which is interrupted by the arrival of Councillor Drosselmeyer, who is Clara's godfather. Often described as the least of Tchaikovskys three ballets, it has been derided by scholars for its trite plot (Claras ultimate reward, after rescuing her wooden prince, is a childs paradise of sweets and hot beverages). Nutcracker was based on the Alexandre Dumas translation of a Hoffmann tale, in which a little girl comes to the aid of her Christmas gift (a magical nutcracker in the . She serves on the music faculty of Metropolitan State University of Denver and gives pre-performance talks for Opera Colorado and the Colorado Symphony Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 51) [view], except for the numbers used in the Suite, which were extracted from the score and replaced by manuscript copies [51]. It is not possible to establish the exact date on which work on the sketches was begun. The toys come to life. Ivan Vsevolozhsky agreed to postpone the ballet and the opera, and further work on the ballet was only resumed after Tchaikovsky's return from America, in Maydanovo at the end of May 1891. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 'Waltz of the Flowers': A Royal Celebration He began by orchestrating the few numbers which were to be performed as a Suite from the ballet. Art, Music, and Architecture Around the World, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, What is Dubstep Music? From an early age, Tchaikovsky had relished stage works involving magic or fantasy such as Webers Der Freischtz and Mozarts Don Giovanni. The Nutcracker Ballet is a famous and colorful Christmas ballet based on 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,' a story in a book of fairy tales written by German author E. T. A. Hoffman in 1816. The celestas (below) advantage over the glockenspiel was its ability to create through its keyboard the effect of a splashing fountain, as required by Petipa to accompany the Sugar-Plum Fairy. The original story was more dark and disturbing, with choreographer Marius Petipa deciding to take a lighter approach to Clara's Christmastime dream when adapting it for the stage. The great success of Sleeping Beauty, involving the close collaboration between Vsevolozhsky, Tchaikovsky and the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa, inevitably prompted Vsevolozhsky to plan a sequel from the same team. Un-scientifically, The "1812 Overture" and "The Nutcracker" ballet music probably hold 2 of the top 5 of this measure (at least on a "highlights from" basis). Discover its composer, Tchaikovsky, and learn about famous songs like "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. But if this is impractical, then this choral part may be performed by 24 voices an operatic chorus". On 23 March/4 April the instrumentation was completed, according to the date on the manuscript score. One of ballets unsung heroes, Vsevolozhsky not only nurtured Tchaikovskys talent for the form, inspiring him to compose Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, but he also raised ballet to a high art-form. A brief history of the nutcracker doll - DW - 12/01/2021 Many ballet companies perform it every holiday season. - Definition & Texture, Operetta: Definition, Composers & Famous Examples, Camelot the Musical: Synopsis, Characters & Songs, The Nutcracker Ballet: Composer, Music & Story, Intertextuality in Music: Definition & Examples, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee & Scheherazade, Art & Architecture of the Ancient Middle East, Ancient South American Art & Architecture, Introduction to Textiles & the Textile Industry, DSST Art of the Western World: Study Guide & Test Prep, High School Liberal Arts & Sciences: Help & Review, World Music & Art Lesson Plans & Activities, UExcel Introduction to Philosophy: Study Guide & Test Prep, Humanities 201: Critical Thinking & Analysis, NES Music - WEST (504): Practice & Study Guide, The Nutcracker Lesson for Kids: Story & Ballet, Contemporary African Architecture: Examples & Trends, North African Architecture: History & Examples, West African Architecture: History & Examples, Space Frame: Definition, Structures & Design, Thin Shell Concrete: Structures & Construction, Urban Renewal: Definition, Projects & Strategy, Hundertwasser: House, Architecture & Buildings, Pope Gregory XIII: Accomplishments & Legacy, Pope Gregory XVI: Biography & Accomplishments, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Clara's father, Hans Stahlbaum, the town's mayor, Clara's godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, who gifts her the nutcracker for Christmas, Sugar Plum Fairy, watches over the Land of the Sweets in the prince's absence. The Nutcracker origin is from a German fairytale titled "he Nutcracker and the Mouse King". The ballet was commissioned by the Director of the Russian Imperial Theatres, Ivan Vsevolozhsky, who held preliminary talks with the composer in November and December 1890 [9]. Bewigged and wearing an eyepatch, Drosselmeyer is a clock- and watch-maker, creator of the most ingenious automata. Even beside these exotic colours, Tchaikovskys mastery of evocative orchestral colours remains peerless. The Russian Dance - the Trepak - is a Cossack dance normally performed by men who would kick their legs out from a squatting position. But the composer did not write the music for this scene straight away, noting down only a few sketches eventually used for the gallop, beside the note: "This is the start of the coda, composed during a stroll in Piter [Petersburg]". Betsy Schwarm is a music historian based in Colorado. The original story was more dark and disturbing, with choreographer Marius Petipa deciding to take a lighter approach to Clara's Christmastime dream when adapting it for the stage. We are instantly drawn into the world of The Nutcracker with Tchaikovsky's Miniature Overture. On the same day, the composer told Modest Tchaikovsky and Aleksandra Hubert that he had finished the sketches, complaining that he was greatly tired, and "it seems the old man is starting to take his last breaths" [40]. ", Create an account to start this course today. You need now only to compose great dances, and not for dancers, and all those variations would only irritate the majority of the audience" [17]. On 20 April/2 May, the composer wrote from New York to Eduard Npravnk: "I cannot start working again before June at the earliest otherwise whatever I tried to write would turn out wretchedly" [33]. Beethoven Wrap-up and furtherlistening, 12. So, the next time December comes around, listen and you may hear the sounds of the Nutcracker!. Notable in this ballet is Tchaikovsky's use of an instrument called a celesta, which is similar to the piano but higher and more delicate in tone. The mice, led by The Mouse King, battle with the soldiers, now led by The Nutcracker. 71a 8. This date, together with the note "Rouen" was made by the composer on the inside front cover of his notebook, which on its first pages contains sketches for the opening of the second scene of Act I [28]. Listen for the different sections of this movement in more formal language, its in ABA form, also known as Ternary Form. The next day, in a deep depression caused by the unexpected news of his sister Aleksandra's death, he wrote: "Even more than yesterday and the day before, I feel absolutely incapable of depicting Confitremburg in music" [32]. He had been turned into a nutcracker by the evil Mouse King, and only by the King's death could the Nutcracker regain his human form. The Nutcracker Suite is a sparkly little box of jewels made up of highlights from Tchaikovsky's fairy tale ballet The Nutcracker, which has become a Christmas staple around the world: conductor . Listen for the very rhythmic, punctuated, maybe angular feel of the main A theme. Hoffmann fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King. The ballet was inspired by "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," published in 1815 by the German author E.T.A. According to Britannica, the plot is loosely based off "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," a fantasy story written by E.T.A. The celebrations include the "Waltz of Flowers" and the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.". The ballet is scored for a large orchestra consisting of 3 flutes (2nd and 3rd doubling piccolos), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets (in A, B-flat), bass clarinet (in A, B-flat), 2 bassoons + 4 horns (in F), 2 trumpets (in A, B-flat), 3 trombones, tuba + 4 timpani, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, tam tam, glockenspiel, castanets, toy instruments (rattle, trumpets (in C), drums, 2 rabbit drummers, cuckoos, quails, cymbals) + celesta (or piano) + 2 harps, violins I, violins II, violas, cellos, and double basses. Adagio, 1. He composed during the Romantic Period and is best known for his composition of The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The wealthy Stahlbaum family, including daughter Clara and son Fritz, is having a Christmas party in their beautifully decorated mansion. I feel like its a lifeline. 71a. Clara and the nutcracker are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, who throws a party in their honor with music and, of course, dancing. Tchaikovsky had used the glockenspiel in his still little-known Orchestral Suite No. They were bored" [48]. The sleigh arrives in the Land of Sweets, where everything is made of candy, sparkling sugar, frosting, and cookies! Once again, this piece has very clear contrasting sections what does each one say? Listen for the woodwind opening, harp cadenza, horns with melody, strings open up the waltz, lighter flute melody, heavy new melody from cellos and violas, lighter response from violins, bigger and more triumphant ending. "The Nutcracker" ballet was written during the classical period of ballet, a time when many famous ballets were being written and performed. Then the old-woman-who-lived-in-a-shoe dances with all her children and a group of clowns. After this he wrote: "Return to No. This gives The Nutcracker just enough time to stab The Mouse King. Youve probably heard bits and pieces on TV (especially during the wintertime), and it was also featured in the original Fantasia, if you saw that.