fendrock Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 If you had free reign to choreograph something, which music would you choose? I’d choose Josef Suk’s Scherzo. Link to comment
citibob Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 * Dave Brubreck's "Take Five" * Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto, 1st movement Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 The Suk Scherzo Fantastique, Fendrock? Been there, done that. Twice actually! In 1995 I used it as a work for three couples, but that ballet has been supplanted by a female trio made in '99. Link to comment
Calliope Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 The music from the old DeBeers Diamond commercials by Karl Jenkins. Link to comment
Ari Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 Copland's Appalachian Spring. Songs by Berlin, Porter and Rodgers (separate ballets). Link to comment
citibob Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 I believe Appalachain Spring was originally written by Copland for Martha Graham. Link to comment
Juliet Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 The music from the old DeBeers Diamond commercials by Karl Jenkins. Calliope, I like this too-- Christopher d'Amboise just did a piece with this and it was very well received-- I'd like Mozart's Div. #11..... Link to comment
Ari Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 I know about the Graham dance, citibob. I've even seen it. But that's modern dance, not ballet. I don't see any reason it can't be used again. Link to comment
fendrock Posted November 25, 2002 Author Share Posted November 25, 2002 Yes, Leigh, that is the music to which I was referring. Interesting that you reduced the number of dancers the second time around -- I'd make it with a corps of at least eight or so...maybe I'm thinking big because the music seems big? Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted November 25, 2002 Share Posted November 25, 2002 It's huge music, isn't it Fendrock? For what it's worth - here's the genesis of the second version. The first time around, I thought I had caught the sweep of the music, but missed some of its strangeness. My entry into the music is its denouement, that weird subject that enters at the end with almost no thematic warning. In 1999, I started with that point in mind and built to it; in '95 I felt like I never got there. Amusingly enough, although the first work had three couples and the second three women, there are actually the same number of people in both casts. ;) In '98 I had such hell with the male dancers I worked with that I decided in '99 to make a dance where the male partners in it were invisible. They gave us less trouble. If you're curious to read more about this dance, go to "A Choreographer's Diary" on this site. The first 8-10 days describe the creation of this work. Link to comment
fendrock Posted November 25, 2002 Author Share Posted November 25, 2002 I'd very much like to read the Diary, but have been unable to find it on my own. Could you provide a link? Thanks! Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted November 26, 2002 Share Posted November 26, 2002 A Choreographer's Diary Link to comment
PK Posted November 26, 2002 Share Posted November 26, 2002 The Faure Requiem-but it's already been done! Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted November 26, 2002 Share Posted November 26, 2002 Hmm- this might be my fault by mentioning I had worked to the Suk, so apologies. Just about very piece of music has been used already by someone, somewhere. About the only way to use a piece of music first is to commission it. So if you would like to see a piece of music as a ballet, go ahead and mention it. Someone else will probably tell you of a ballet they saw to it, and that's OK, too, but it doesn't mean that's the ballet you wanted to see to that music! Link to comment
PK Posted November 26, 2002 Share Posted November 26, 2002 Here's something a bit wild but truely I'd love to see a huge chorus with the dance telling a story to something like Honneger's King David.I've seen Carmina Burana with chorus and it stuck in my mind.For me the melding of ballet and a choir is joy! Link to comment
Xena Posted November 26, 2002 Share Posted November 26, 2002 I love Massenet's Thais-meditation (arr Madden) (originally I had written Faure Pavane..but I got confused for some reason). That would be so beautiful danced by a tall, willowy ballerina. Link to comment
Tancos Posted November 26, 2002 Share Posted November 26, 2002 Has anyone ever used Karol Symanowsky's music? I'm thinking particularly of his "Myths" and "Masques," but there's also the "Chant du Roxanne" from his opera "King Roger" that was effectively transcribed for violin and piano. Link to comment
Perfect Performer Posted November 27, 2002 Share Posted November 27, 2002 I Always thought it would be nice to choregraph a dance to Carol of the Bells. Link to comment
PK Posted November 27, 2002 Share Posted November 27, 2002 I'd like to hear Mickey Hart's Udu Chant set with classical ballet. African rhythms with ballet.I thought of Lamberena with the mix of Bach and African drumming. Link to comment
Guest Antony Posted November 27, 2002 Share Posted November 27, 2002 Hmmm... I wouldn't know where to begin, I come across so many pieces and find myself thinking "Now this would really be something..." If only I could choreograph. ;) (Guess I'll get round to that after I've learned to play the piano, and compose music too.) How about Smetana's "Ma Vlast" (Moldau) for starters? Maybe someone's done it already, in which case I'd love to see it. A. Link to comment
Allegro Posted November 27, 2002 Share Posted November 27, 2002 the Debeers diamond commercial music was also choreographed by Thom Clower,for Alabama Dance Theatre. It was beautiful, but a killer for the dancers. Ifelt so sorry for them. Link to comment
PK Posted November 27, 2002 Share Posted November 27, 2002 Yes, the Moldau! How about Porgy and Bess! I'm getting carried away! Link to comment
Paquita Posted November 28, 2002 Share Posted November 28, 2002 I was just listening to Holst's planets on the radio. That would be interesting to see as a ballet... Or how about Stravinsky's symphony for wind instruments (I'm not sure the exact name)? Link to comment
Mashinka Posted November 29, 2002 Share Posted November 29, 2002 Holst's Planets was used by David Bintley for the Royal Ballet about 10 or 12 years ago. It was an utter turkey! I went to the first night and the curtain was delayed for nearly an hour because of problems with the elaborate set. It was one of the hottest nights of the year, the audience grew restless and the management made the magnanimous gesture of a free drink at the bar - unusual in itself at Covent Garden. It really was terrible. I don't remember it too well but seem to recall the dancers skipping around a giant apple at one point. Only the dancing of the lovely Bryony Brind in one of the sections, proved a redeeming feature. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 29, 2002 Share Posted November 29, 2002 Antony Tudor also choreographed "The Planets", pre-1940, but only a couple of sections have so far been recovered. The title of the Stravinsky is, if I recall correctly, "Symphonies on Wind Instruments". I used to play it during my trumpet days. Link to comment
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