Chapter 49. Poetry in Motion: Tchaikovsky and the Ballet; Listening Guide 40: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Two Dances

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker was choreographed by Marius Petipa.

T

Tchaikovsky's ballets remain central to the repertory today.

T

The Nutcracker was based on a story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann.

T

The pas de deux, or dance for two, was developed by the choreographer Marius Petipa.

T

Which new instrument did Tchaikovsky introduce to ballet?

celesta

Tchaikovsky struggled with attacks of depression.

true

The pas de deux, or dance for two, was developed by the choreographer Marius Petipa.

true

Which of the following statements describe Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?

-The strings are played pizzicato in the first section. -The performing ensemble includes a bass clarinet. -It is in three-part form (A-B-A).

Which instruments are heard in the music of the second section (B)?

-celesta -woodwinds -strings

Which describes the form of Trepak?

A-B-A

Tchaikovsky conducted at the inaugural concert of which famous concert hall?

Carnegie Hall, New York City

During what time of year is The Nutcracker usually performed?

Christmas

During which holiday season is Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker performed every year?

Christmas

Where does Act I of The Nutcracker take place?

Christmas party

What is the meter of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?

duple

Ballet was part of the court of Louis XIV.

false

Tchaikovsky lived and worked mostly in Paris.

false

Tchaikovsky was the first Russian

whose music appealed to Western tastes

Which instruments are heard in the music of the second section (B)?

woodwinds celesta strings

Drag and drop the appropriate words to describe Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is from a set of dances found in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, a(n) ballet from 1892. The instrumentation is notable for its use of the celesta, which the composer described as "something between a piano and a glockenspiel, with a divinely beautiful tone." Its bouncy duple meter and staccato melody make the work both mysterious and delightful.

The Nutcracker is based on a fanciful story by

E. T. A. Hoffmann.

Which of the following is an opera by Tchaikovsky?

Eugene Onegin

The Trepak is inspired by a French folk dance.

FALSE

The Nutcracker is based on a story originally written by the Romantic writer Victor Hugo and expanded by E. T. A. Hoffmann.

False

Match the type of staged dancing with the country with which it is associated.

France - ballet de cour England - masque Italy - intermedio

Ballet was featured in operas by _____ composers.

French

Which section is this? 0:23

It sounds like the A section

Nedezhda von Meck's relationship with Tchaikovsky was which?

Patron

The Nutcracker was based on a story written by E. T. A. Hoffmann.

True

Listen to the following music excerpts and drag them to the correct location on the image below.

arched lines 0:15 (Green): 2nd pizzicato strings 0:08 (Red):1st solo celesta 0:17 (Yellow): 3rd

Which of the following describes the celesta?

bell-like timbre

Which describes the texture of Trepak?

single melody line with accompaniment (homophony)

What happens in the second act of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker?

Clara visits the land of sweets with the Prince

Which percussion instrument is most prominently featured in this piece (particularly beginning around thirteen seconds into the excerpt)? Trepak 0:28

tambourine

Ballet was first featured in Russian opera in the Romantic era.

False

Here is the A section of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy: (A section 0:24) Here is the B section: (B section 0:15) Fill in the blank below to describe the next section of music, which follows the B section. (music following B section 0:17)

The B section is followed by music that sounds like the A section.

which of the dances from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker is depicted in this photo?

Trepak

Which instrument plays the primary melody in the first section (A) of this dance?

celesta

Beyond ballet, Tchaikovsky was also a noted composer of

operas. symphonies. concertos.

Which percussion instrument is most prominently featured in this piece (particularly beginning around thirteen seconds into the excerpt)? Trepak, beginning 0:28

tambourine

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in Tchaikovsky's Trepak from The Nutcracker.

texture- homophonic form- three-part

Which of the following statements correctly describe Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy?

the strings are played pizzicato in the first section. the performing ensemble includes a bass clarinet. it is in three-part form (A-B-A)

Which movement of The Nutcracker is based on a Russian dance?

trepak

Ballet has been a part of theatrical entertainments since the Renaissance.

true

Which of the following are famous ballets written by Tchaikovsky? Which are not?

Correct: The Nutcracker Swan Lake Sleeping Beauty Incorrect Romeo and Juliet 1812 Overture

Which of the following was NOT a famous ballet written by Tchaikovsky?

Romeo and Juliet

Tchaikovsky was a famous composer from -

Russia

In which countries was nineteenth-century ballet favored as an independent dramatic form?

Russia France

Tchaikovsky was a famous ______ composer.

Russian

What was an Italian precursor to ballet?

intermedio

Which describes the texture of this excerpt?

HOMOPHONIC

Tchaikovsky's three ballets were all choreographed by

Marius Petipa

Where did Tchaikovsky receive his first teaching post thanks to the recommendation of Anton Rubinstein?

Moscow Conservatory

Drag and drop the appropriate words to describe Trepak.

Trepak is one dance from a set of dances found in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, a ballet from 1892. It is a Russian dance featuring squat-kicks and an energetic rhythm. The instrumentation features a tambourine with the strings and woodwinds that enlivens the rhythm and orchestral sound.

Which instrument plays the primary melody in the first section (A) of this dance? First Section [0:24]

celesta

In The Nutcracker, the timbre of the - enhances the dance of the -.

celesta Sugar Plum Fairy

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy has a tempo marking of andante non troppo, which means that is to be performed extremely fast. T/F

false

What did the choreographer Marius Petipa invent?

pas de deux

Which instruments play at the beginning of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy? (Note that the excerpt is very quiet so you may need to turn up your volume.)

plucked strings

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the clip that they describe. These excerpts are from both Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Trepak.

Correct label: pizzicato strings Excerpt B0:14 Correct label: full orchestra + tambourine Excerpt D0:15 Correct label: woodwinds and strings in dialogue, with celesta

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the clip that they describe. These excerpts are from both Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Trepak.

Correct label: woodwinds and strings in dialogue, with celesta Excerpt A0:08 Correct label: pizzicato strings Excerpt B0:14 Correct label: full orchestra + tambourine

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the clip that they describe. These excerpts are from both Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Trepak.

Correct label: woodwinds and strings in dialogue, with celesta Excerpt B0:14 Correct label: full orchestra + tambourine Excerpt A0:08 Correct label: pizzicato strings

Match the name of the dance from The Nutcracker with the correct audio excerpt.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy 0:17 Trepak 0:13

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the clip that they describe. These excerpts are from both Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Trepak.

Excerpt B 0:07: full orchestra + tambourine Excerpt D 0:07: woodwinds and strings in dialogue, with celesta Excerpt A 0:08: pizzicato strings

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy has a tempo marking of andante non troppo, which means that is to be performed extremely fast. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy has a tempo that is extremely fast.

F

Which statement is NOT true? The Nutcracker was choreographed by French-born Marius Petipa. The Nutcracker was Tchaikovsky's only ballet NOT choreographed by Marius Petipa. Tchaikovsky included unusual instruments and exotic dances in The Nutcracker. In The Nutcracker, a wooden toy comes alive.

The Nutcracker was Tchaikovsky's only ballet NOT choreographed by Marius Petipa.

Trepak is one dance from a set of dances found in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, a - from 1892. It is a - dance featuring squat-kicks and an energetic rhythm. The instrumentation features a - with the strings and woodwinds that enlivens the rhythm and orchestral sound.

ballet Russian tambourine

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is from a set of dances found in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, a(n) - from 1892. The instrumentation is notable for its use of the -, which the composer described as "something between a piano and a glockenspiel, with a divinely beautiful tone." Its bouncy - meter and - melody make the work both mysterious and delightful.

ballet celesta duple staccato

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in Tchaikovsky's Trepak from The Nutcracker.

form Correct label: three-part texture Correct label: homophonic

Which describes the texture of this excerpt?

homophonic

The eighteenth century saw the rise of ballet as an - art form. French ballet was preeminent in the early nineteenth century then - ballet flourished.

independent Russian

Here is the A section of Trepak: (Trepak, A section, 0:28) And here is the B section: (Trepak, B section, 0:21) Which describes this excerpt? (Trepak, 0:23)

it sounds like the A section

Here is the A section of Trepak: (Trepak, A section, 0:28) And here is the B section: (Trepak, B section, 0:21) Which section is this? (Trepak, 0:21)

its the B section

Which section is this? 0:21

its the B section

Listen to the following music excerpts from Trepak and drag them to the correct location on the timeline below.

low strings 0:21 (Blue): 2nd lively dance 0:28 (Red): 1st dance quickens 0:23 (Purple): 3rd

Nadezhda von Meck's relationship with Tchaikovsky was that of his

patron

Nedezhda von Meck's relationship with Tchaikovsky was which?

patron

Listen to the following music excerpts from Trepak and drag them to the correct location on the timeline below.

red blue purple

Nadezhda von Meck's arrangement with Tchaikovsky had one stipulation

that they never met