The music, the magic, the magnificent leaps of a ballet are a spectacle that we as human beings have enjoyed for centuries. Even the most mundane days seem to twirl into a magical ballet performance when we hear that lilting, captivating melody from Swan Lake or the stirring romantic tune of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. It's the dance of music and the dance of a story, combined. Let's explore the world of ballet music as seen through the rose-tinted lens of a 21st Century ballet dancer...
Today, I, a devotee of the graceful elegance and the mesmerizing musical storytelling of the ballet world, would like to dedicate this discourse on the enchanting music of ballet. With a graceful sweep of my arm and the twirling grace of a professional dancer (who happens to also love a cuppa), let us pirouette through the realm of these musical delights.
But first...
- Did you know the history of ballet music goes all the way back to the 16th Century with the court ballets of France?
- Ballet music has come a long way!
- We can even go back further than that â ballet-like dances were in evidence in Ancient Greece and Rome.
I do! Ballet is an enduring art form and its music has been an integral part of the show from its inception! Without the magic, the charm and the breathtaking skill of the orchestra, ballet would just be silent dancing - and the artistry would be missing.
As a ballerina myself, I often find that a simple melody can bring to mind an intricate pirouette, an uplifting jeté or even an intense, graceful grand allegro. From the graceful melodies of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty to the iconic steps set to the rhythmic pounding beat of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, we explore how the ballet's music tells the tale and enhances the visual artistry.
The relationship between ballet and music is so intertwined, that it's often a case of the music composing the ballet rather than the other way round.
Imagine how those fabulous, classical tunes from Swan Lake would feel in another musical context? Perhaps, that romantic theme that evokes swanâs downy feathers, would make a very acceptable advert jingle for a fashion house.
So many composers have immortalised ballet in the form of music - the most famous of them include:
- Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: From Swan Lake to Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, his iconic melodies create emotional magic for all ages.
- Igor Stravinsky: A real visionary in ballet music and one who didnât shy away from daring melodies and tempos. Take a look at The Rite of Spring and youâll discover how he brought modernistic rhythms and structures into classical dance.
- Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet is an unforgettable piece and itâs quite difficult to listen to it without visualising Romeo and Juliet themselves. He wrote an abundance of dance-based music, but for me Cinderella will forever be one of the jewels in his musical crown!
- Maurice Ravel: A master of the elegant score! From Daphnis et Chloe to Bolero, his music just takes my breath away. Itâs always the epitome of classical grace and romantic charm!
- Aaron Copland: An American composer with a genius for the simple and beautiful - like the melody of his iconic ballet piece Appalachian Spring - it brings an authentic musical texture to this classic.
- Dmitri Shostakovich: A man with the blues - he composed for ballet and many of his compositions had a decidedly dark quality - such as his piece for The Bolt
The music these great composers have given to the ballet is what continues to inspire choreographers and dancers. I do think they're just a tiny part of a whole pantheon of inspirational music. I believe this is why ballet, unlike the majority of the theatre, never has recorded tracks playing - instead it is all done by real, living breathing (and very talented) musicians.
Ballet scores do not merely serve as background music. The music plays a dynamic part of telling the story, heightening the emotional depth of a performance and bringing the narrative to life. Itâs quite simply part of the choreography.
The influence of the music can vary significantly
For example, consider the heart-wrenching musical cues in Swan Lake which guide us through the tortured and tumultuous journey of the heroine - the mournful strains accompanying Odette as a white swan, while those magical strains we all know as âThe Dance of the Little Swansâ reflect the ethereal grace of the creatures that she is.
The iconic use of Tchaikovskyâs musical score The Nutcracker evokes both wonder and terror. Those iconic strains conjure a whimsical magic in our minds - I just can't imagine The Nutcracker being done any other way.
However, when looking beyond the standard Nutcracker, one cannot fail to notice the vast diversity of music, which ballet composers continue to provide, not to mention the range of music that contemporary dance companies now incorporate into their shows.
This means incorporating music genres, styles and artists we perhaps would not associate with ballet and they are an innovative part of the choreography that is shaping this artform now.
Iâm particularly interested in contemporary ballets that use electro-pop artists such as Björk, or the pulsing bassline beats of Massive Attack. Just imagine this soundtrack:
A dancer executes an impressive, almost balletic, performance while Madonnaâs "Vogue" is thumping out in the background... and even BeyoncĂ© would not feel out of place in the midst of such musical dynamism.
From minimalist scores like Philip Glass's compositions for the ballet Einstein on the Beach, which were a significant departure from the classical norm of ballet scores, and into experimental music of the late 20th century which used an orchestra's range of instruments and effects, there's now a greater degree of variety in the type of music being employed.
In fact, contemporary dancers can bring in electronic or world music to shape the choreography - itâs not unusual to see ballet dancers interpreting a Bach fugue in a show or blending the graceful classical movements of the art with hip-hop routines that incorporate some kind of rhythmic âtapâ in a musical scene that reflects our modern-day lifestyle.
It's as if music, like a captivating dance partner, leads the dance itself, telling a story with an unseen choreography. This artistry has always played such an intrinsic part in balletâs history and today there's greater experimentation in the types of scores employed for this very distinctive dance form.
The combination of ballet and the diversity of musical scores ensures the art of dance itself stays relevant - for all those who enjoy ballet as a creative force in its own right, this type of innovation keeps ballet fresh, current and appealing in a way that only the world of music can. It helps to add to the excitement and spectacle of a performance!
It seems that dancers can find the music of the soul even in its most unexpected forms, giving it an altogether new visual artistry and giving a completely new context to these tracks of music. As they translate it all into the artistry of their ballet.
I still think there is an elegance in a classical ballet score that's never going to disappear. There are some iconic, evocative melodies that will endure...and yet there is also a sense of wonder, joy and exploration at how far the contemporary dance world can now take this extraordinary artform.
Ballet and its accompanying music - have truly grown from their original, courtly and formal dance days.
I believe this combination, from classical to modern, continues to excite audiences because the musical palette has broadened so much - even a ballet fan can explore the nuances in music and discover the unique connection between ballet and sound. This makes each performance excitingly different - and always a little surprising.
As we head toward this next, great decade for ballet ( and letâs hope it is as remarkable as all thatâs come before it), this is why it's important that we enjoy these scores in all their magnificent glory, from the lilting melody of Tchaikovsky to the rhythmic sounds of BeyoncĂ©!
Now if youâll excuse me, I have an early start for the studio. The day begins at dawn (but after I've had my usual brew). It's a lovely leotard I'm going to wear today, and Iâve also just bought a matching pink tulle tutu that looks rather exquisite. As they say in ballet â I must practice hard and âwork my buns off!â - to make those graceful movements look so effortless and captivating! The magic really does lie in the practice sessions. I'm sure the dance moves will be worth it as I dance to a medley of those legendary ballet pieces. Happy Ballet Dancing to one and all!