Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.
Continuing with Halloween Week here at A Piece of My Mind, I've collected five spooky pieces of ballet music that should send shivers up your spines.
1 - Cinderella's Waltz - Cinderella - Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra
Composed by Sergei Prokofiev
2 - Montagues and Capulets - Romeo and Juliet - Stuttgart Ballet Orchestra
Composed by Sergei Prokofiev
The main spooky theme runs till the 1:49 mark.
3 - La mort d'Hilarion (The death of Hilarion) - Giselle - Tokyo Ballet Orchestra
Composed by Adolphe Adam
Giselle is, at its heart, a ghost story. In this scene the vengeful spirits known as the Wilis (pronounced 'will-eeze') - as in, 'you're giving me the willies' - trap spurned lover Hilarion in the forest and force him to dance to death.
In the ballet, the Wilis are the spirits of young betrayed women who were denied their wedding day and died of broken hearts.
4 - The Augurs of Spring: Dances of the Young Girls - The Rite of Spring - Mariinsky Ballet Orchestra
Composed by Igor Stravinsky
The main spooky theme runs till the 1:35 mark. It definitely brings to mind John Williams' Jaws theme, which followed Stravinsky's composition 62 years later.
This particular performance is a reconstruction of the 1913 original choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky. At the turn of the last century, this music and dance's modernism was so disturbing to the audience at the premiere, they literally rioted.
5 - 1st Tableau and The Enchanted Garden of Kashchei (an evil immortal who terrorizes young women) - The Firebird - Bolshoi State Academic Theater Orchestra
Composed by Igor Stravinsky
The main spooky theme runs till the 4:20 mark.
Wow! Selections from such great ballet. My review of Giselle: Boy seduces girl, boy dumps girl, girl dies. Boy learns his lesson, gets the countess, the money and a great story of a lost love that will torture his noble wife forever: Giselle is still dead.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous, beautiful selections this week.
LOL, Jamie! Good synopsis.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Julia! I could watch these all day. Such grand tragedy!
ReplyDeleteI like my tragedies grand, Jennie - and ballet really delivers.
ReplyDeleteHi Julia! Spooky cool collection! Thanks for sharing! Have a Happy Halloween! :)
ReplyDeleteI think that Prokofiev specialized in "creepy" music and boy, did he do it well! I always forget that that one piece of music is from Romeo & Juliet; it reminds me of Halloweens from when I was a kid for some reason!
ReplyDeleteAs beautiful as ballets are, they sure can be creepy from time to time and now when I think of getting the Willies, I'll know exactly who/what they are!
Happy Halloween to you, Julia!
Russian composers sure knew how to do creepy tragedy, didn't they? I loved the music and the dancing in this Set.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful selection ... enjoyed these so much ... makes me want to go the ballet!
ReplyDeletethanks for brightening my day!
oxo