Oh, my darlings! It’s June 1st – a day we must absolutely celebrate in all its blushing glory. June 1st is an enchanting dance upon the calendar, marking the start of the glorious, sun-drenched, golden Summer. But it’s also a date I find quite deliciously significant. You see, June 1st is a date indelibly etched upon my heart and mind. June 1st – *ballet music day*, a day devoted to the beautiful, poignant music that accompanies every pirouette, every arabesque, every grand jeté. Ballet music - my darling, its beauty is beyond words, its charm bewitches me and whisks me away on the winds of pure romance.
Oh, I could not resist an excuse for some fabulous shoe-shopping! In fact, today, it simply begs for an opulent pink satin pair of ballet pumps, adorned with a bewitching tiny diamante bow. A match to my stunning ballerina-esque silk blouse – all delicate ruffles and shimmering silk. To wear, my darlings, is to transform. Yes, my dear ones – it is as simple as slipping into something a little magical, and being whisked away on the ethereal wings of pure artistry and graceful movement.
How splendid it would be to feel those silken threads glide over my skin and drape around me – whispering of elegance and the art of dance as they caress. Then, my darling dears, just slip into a diaphanous pink chiffon tutu – something to stir the soul of every little girl – and pair it with an exquisite pink leotard, that echoes the blushing tones of summer roses.
I can’t possibly forget, my dears, a pink tulle wrap with diamanté trimming, all a-flutter around the waistline as we move about with a grace and refinement fit for royalty! After all, our pink ensemble would make the perfect accompaniment to ballet music that resonates within my very soul.
But let’s start from the beginning. Ballet music, my darlings. That captivating score which inspires every graceful step – an absolute must for an authentic and thrilling dance experience. A masterpiece is always enhanced by a powerful melody and what else would give you such depth, nuance and power? Oh my darlings, it can even awaken the soul! But that, my dear ones, is a little beyond the scope of our ballet music extravaganza – although it’s a thrilling thought for sure, isn’t it!
Ballet music’s magic is almost as if a whole world comes to life! And it makes the ballerinas on stage become an ethereal echo, each move echoing with such a delicious harmony and passion.
Of course, when thinking about ballet music, the iconic Tchaikovsky always leaps to the fore! How can we forget the timeless grace of Swan Lake? The majesty of the score evokes that wonderful, iconic Russian romanticism with such a perfect flow! Then the power of Tchaikovsky’s nutcracker! Each captivating number, it brings back my favourite childhood memories – pure magic, my dear, simply magic. Those delicate movements – an explosion of joyful and playful beauty, but with an undertone of sophistication and grace.
Yes, a ballet can easily take us from pure ethereal joy to utter dark and deep dramatic melancholy with a masterful flick of the composer’s pen! In fact, there are few artistic forms that can convey that full range of emotion so completely and succinctly, just with a symphony and a waltz.
Just let that bewitching music fill you – and imagine those magical ballerinas. Let those powerful and elegant movements set you adrift, my darlings, like a flower tossed on a summer breeze!
The sheer magnificence of those sweeping melodic arcs that perfectly compliment the expressive dance is simply breathtaking! Just think how the tempo speeds up or slows down – mimicking every movement, each pose. Then the crescendo when the music reaches its soaring heights!
I simply must mention Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. A revolutionary ballet that literally shook up the world with its shocking primitiveness! In a stark contrast to the classical traditions of earlier ballet scores, its stark, raw music reflected a shockingly different type of dance - angular, jagged, primal. A fascinating fusion of the old and new, my darlings!
But what is a dance without its music, my lovelies! Ballet music evokes emotions so vivid that you almost smell, touch and taste them.
Oh, how that exquisite tutti and fortissimo give rise to the most elegant of orchestral arrangements! You hear those gorgeous melodies weave an unforgettable spell that enraptures and intoxicates the senses – the symphony of string and brass. And it all makes perfect sense when those iconic French horn parts weave through a cascade of sound that makes every step on the stage shine brightly! And all brought together by those masterful percussive flourishes – they simply lift the roof!
Let’s dance around this beautiful and evocative ballet music. Let it guide our thoughts and steps with an uplifting and celebratory symphony that simply lifts the heart!
Now, if you will forgive my musings about my wonderful ensemble, let’s focus on a few other fantastic ballet music masters:
Let's Take a Trip Through Ballet Music’s Golden Days:
- **Igor Stravinsky – *The Rite of Spring (1913)* –** My dears, when you look back at its influence, this masterpiece was more a dramatic awakening than simply a revolutionary score! Imagine all those jarring, rhythmic explosions. It was certainly unlike any other composition you had heard before. Think – a whole era of avant-garde dancing and music, ushered into the world on a wave of pure daring. What can be more dramatic! It shook audiences to the core! The very foundation of classical ballet, thrown onto its head. The sheer brutality, raw and uninhibited. Its savage, wild power has truly stood the test of time, my lovelies.
- **Maurice Ravel -*Boléro*(1928) –** An absolutely glorious crescendo, oh darlings. Imagine it – that iconic insistent, relentless rhythm that drives towards the most powerful finale! It truly embraces the dramatic elements of music that the dance must emulate to capture its essence – to perfectly embody its raw emotional impact.
- **Frederick Delius–*A Village Romeo and Juliet* (1907)** – A truly romantic, moving, tragic love story told through song! It echoes such tender, exquisite longing. Think soaring violins. Beautiful melodies, lush orchestrations and such an emotive narrative! Each delicate moment that is expressed in dance truly lifts the story.
- **Pyotr Tchaikovsky – *Swan Lake*(1876) –** One of the most recognized of all classical ballets – so exquisitely emotional and a truly dramatic tale. My dears, if you haven’t witnessed it for yourself – oh, treat yourselves! From that haunting and mesmerizing opening scene, you will be swept away in a world of romance. There’s something special about this piece that resonates deeply with everyone. Perhaps the dramatic tension in the narrative. Think *the beautiful white swan*, the deception and deceit. You get so involved. You experience the dark, mysterious element of nature. But with such an uplifting feel – because, my darling, it's love in the most tragic and wonderful sense! And the dancing! Oh, my dear ones, it moves you to tears. And then there are the *black swans* – just as exquisite, so powerful and fierce, but with a wild intensity that takes us deep into the dark and passionate heart of the narrative. I adore both of Tchaikovsky’s works *Swan Lake* and *The Nutcracker* for that wonderfully Romantic and classical elegance, so evocative and timeless. Just utterly beguiling, my darlings.
- **Pyotr Tchaikovsky–*The Nutcracker*(1892) –** Pure whimsical magic! A true delight for children. Those *snowflakes* so delicate and pristine, the charming and joyful dance of the *sugarplum fairies* and, of course, the iconic *Russian Dance*. Every step is enhanced by Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary orchestration. All so cleverly woven to make sure it embraces that element of childhood fantasies, innocence, and light! Those lilting waltz-like passages in *Waltz of the Snowflakes* – oh, I adore how it sets that stage for so much pure innocent delight.
- **Leonard Bernstein – *Fancy Free *(1944)*– **Such wonderful musical moments in this ballet! There’s something very engaging and fun about those early American-themed musicals, like this one. This music, the joy – it really comes through and sets the stage for the dances. But it's all just such wonderful American flair!
- **Sergei Prokofiev– *Cinderella *(1944) -** Imagine a glorious celebration - the exquisite ballroom scene with all those gorgeous waltz-like measures that create a wonderfully magical ambience!
And all those fabulous choreographers, working with the same music but all interpreting those emotions and ballet stories in their own special and innovative ways. Oh, such beauty – and talent! Each move as powerful as the music and orchestrations that bring the dance to life.
I’d never dare suggest we have reached the end of such a magnificent journey, but, for today, it's time to gracefully bow out with just a little suggestion – when you get the chance – maybe slip on your ballet pumps and just allow the beauty of the dance to gently embrace your spirit!