A Dance Through the Music of Ballet....

Ballet music appeared in the 1630s, but did not become recognized until the mid-1800s. Even then, composing ballet pieces was considered a demeaning job, filled by otherwise unsuccessful composers. This dance was most often found in a transition point of an opera- short, and allowing only enough time for the actors to change costumes and sets. At first, ballet was a story told without words, so the music was very important. Gradually, opera-styled singing became a part of the ballet, and the story became only partly danced, and partly sung...the music became less and less important. However, a defining change was made in the early 1800s, when dancers simply changed their dancing shoes. Ballerinas decided to wear ballet slippers, allowing them to dance more freely and gracefully than when wearing their hard shoes. Because of this, the ballet music could return to its original form, expressive and flowing, and responsible for telling the story of the ballet. In 1924, ballet music split into two separate directions: modernism and jazz-dance. Jazz dance is similar to the previously mention opera-incorporated ballet, using words to tell the story rather than just the music. Modernism ballet is more typically heard of, and is the romantic ballet told simply through a classic-style of music, not influenced by jazz or any other kind of popular music.

There are five new ballet songs on the playlist, as you can hear:
The first is by Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-93). He is most famous for his compositions in the ballets, "Swan Lake," "The Nutcracker," and, "The 1812 Overture/Concert No. 1," which is the song on the playlist. You may click on the titles of the other two ballets to see performances of them, as well as hear his beautiful symphonies.
Second is Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971). "The Rite of Spring" actually caused a riot when it premiered, as Stravinsky was often pushing the musical boundaries, deeming him as a "musical revolutionary." Although he was born in Russia, he moved to the US in 1939, when WWII began, where he then taught at Harvard University. Stravinsky now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and posthumously received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1987.
Next is yet another Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953). He wrote his first composition at age five, and his first opera at seven. He is known as one of the "greatest composers of the 20th century."
I think we have all heard the "Sabre Dance," by Russian composer Aram Khachaturian (1903-78). Random fact: He composed the Armenian state anthem, and in 1998 was honored by appearing on their money.
Joseph-Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was actually a French composer. He made an American tour in 1928, which was the root of his international fame. Among the twenty-five cities he visited was New Orleans, where he fell in love with jazz music and later started including some jazz elements into his music. Ravel was also friends with the revered classical French composer, Achille-Claude Debussy, who is also currently on my playlist.

Playlist: Songs 147-151