Chapter 46 - Listening Guide Quiz 38: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Trepak

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.

1. ballet 2. Russian 3. tambourine

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

1. lively dance 2. low strings 3. dance quickens

Which best describes the form of Trepak?

A-B-A

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

Excerpt A - pizzicato strings Excerpt B - full orchestra + tambourine Excerpt D - woodwinds and strings in dialogue, with celesta

Which best describes the texture of this excerpt?

homophonic

Which best describes the texture of Trepak?

single melody line with accompaniment (homophony)

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

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