5 on Friday -- Set 247 -- The Halloween Edition

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

"A gypsy fire is on the hearth

Sign of the carnival of mirth

Through the dun fields and from the glade

Flash merry folk in masquerade

For this is Halloween!"

-- Author Unknown

Happy Haunting, Everyone!

1 - The Rite of Spring opening movements -- San Francisco Symphony, directed by Michael Tilson Thomas -- composed by Igor Stravinsky

The spooky theme starts at the 3:30 mark.

2 - Cinderella's Waltz from the ballet Cinderella -- composed by Sergei Prokofiev

3 - Olim lacus colueram (Once in Lakes I Made My Home) from Carmina Burana -- composed by Carl Orff

4 - Don Giovanni, a cenar teco m'invitasti (Don Giovanni, you have invited me to dinner)  -- Carlos Alvarez as Don Giovanni and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as the Commendatore (Knight Commander) -- composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

5 - Danse Macabre -- composed by Camille Saint-Saens

A to Z Blog Challenge -- I is for Prince Ivan from The Firebird

Welcome to Day 9 of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge.

Time for more ballet!

Remember, kids -- when you're a ballet freak, there's never enough ballet.
  

I is for Prince Ivan from The Firebird ballet

Prince Ivan is played here by Andris Liepa, former Bolshoi dancer and now an artistic director for the Russian Seasons 21st Century project, which reproduces the ballets of the golden era of Les Ballet Russes headed by ballet legend Sergei Diaghilev.

The Firebird is played by Nina Ananiashvili, also with the Bolshoi at the time this film was made in 1997. Andris and Nina enjoyed a 15-year dance partnership and it really shows in this piece. Their trust in one another allows for bolder movements than usual during steps that rely on one another for balance.

I suppose we could sneak another 'I' word in here, as the fabulous score is by Igor Stravinsky. At the time, Diaghilev tapped the young unknown composer for this initial collaboration which ultimately led to The Rite of Spring and the historic May 29th, 1913 audience riot when the public was confronted with a piece that became one of the most influential works in the 20th century.

  

5 on Friday - Set 102

It's a big day here at A Piece of My Mind!







Two years ago my blog friend Travis started a musical meme that he called 5 on Friday. I joined this Friday event two sets in, and have barely missed a week since. It's one of the highlights of my week.

I've met many good blog friends since then. Happy 2nd Anniversary to all of us as we keep spinning the tunes!

1 - Donauwalzer or Blue Danube - Vienna State Opera Orchestra



2 - Retour de la vendange or The Grape-Pickers' Return - Composed by Adolphe Adam, performed by the American Ballet Orchestra

The piece included for today's celebration starts at the 0:15 mark, and ends at the 2:52 mark. Giselle is danced by Carla Fracci in this clip, and Albrecht is danced by Erik Bruhn.



3 - Etudes - Composed by Carl Czerny, performed by the Royal Danish Ballet Orchestra

The section meant for today's set begins at the 5:03 mark and ends at the 7:19 mark.



4 - Firebird finale - Composed by Igor Stravinsky, Conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, performed by the San Francisco Symphony



5 - Apotheosis from Sleeping Beauty - Composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky based on the pre-French Revolution national anthem Marche Henri IV, Conducted by Laurence Siegel, performed by the Radio Symphony Orchestra