Jan. C4K Pages · 2012. 11. 20. · like the idea of setting the work around a children’s...
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Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Born: May 7, 1840 Born: May 7, 1840 Born: May 7, 1840 Born: May 7, 1840 Born: May 7, 1840 Died: November 6, 1893 Died: November 6, 1893 Died: November 6, 1893 Died: November 6, 1893 Died: November 6, 1893 Piotr (or Peter, as we would say in English) Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Votinsk, a town in Russia’s Ural Mountains. When he was 8 years old, his family moved to the capital city of St. Petersburg. Although Tchaikovsky was a good musician as a child, this wasn’t considered an “acceptable profession; so his parents made him study law instead. Even in law school, however, the young composer continued to pursue music. Eventually he gave up his legal job to attend the St. Petersburg Conservatory. After graduation, Tchaikovsky moved to Moscow to teach at the new music conservatory there. It is now named after him. Although he composed music in many different styles, Tchaikovsky is most famous for his ballets. Maybe you’ve heard or seen some of them; they include Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is a story written by a German, E.T.A. Hoffman. Tchaikovsky was hired in 1891 by the St. Petersburg Opera to write music for a ballet based on this tale. Initially, he did not like the idea of setting the work around a children’s Christmas party. Luckily, the choreographers were able to convince him to keep this setting. The Nutcracker The Nutcracker debuted on December 17, 1892, in the Mariinsky Theatre, the home of the Kirov Ballet. It was not performed outside of Russia until 1934. Since then, it was been one of the most popular ballets of all time. The Nutcracker is a holiday fairy tale about a young girl Clara, and her favorite Christmas gift, a nutcracker. During her family’s holiday party, Clara’s brother breaks this toy. Godfather Drosselmeyer uses his special powers to repair it. Later that night, Clara is awakened by the sound of scurrying mice, who have come to attack her and the nutcracker. Magically, the toy comes to life and fights off the animals. Once the Mouse King is defeated, the spell that has been cast over the nutcracker is broken and it is revealed to be a handsome prince. This prince then takes Clara to his Kingdom of Sweets, where he shows her all of its delights. The “Dance of the Reed Pipes” and the “Russian Dance” are two of the performances seen in this special place. Men in flowing shirts and red breeches most often dance the “Russian Dance.” The “Dance of the Reed Pipes” is usually performed by three people dressed as shepherdesses. The trill of the flutes and the music of the woodwinds help create its dainty scene.
Transcript of Jan. C4K Pages · 2012. 11. 20. · like the idea of setting the work around a children’s...
Piotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPiotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPiotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPiotr Ilyich TchaikovskyPiotr Ilyich TchaikovskyBorn: May 7, 1840Born: May 7, 1840Born: May 7, 1840Born: May 7, 1840Born: May 7, 1840Died: November 6, 1893Died: November 6, 1893Died: November 6, 1893Died: November 6, 1893Died: November 6, 1893
Piotr (or Peter, as we wouldsay in English) IlyichTchaikovsky was born inVotinsk, a town in Russia’sUral Mountains. When hewas 8 years old, his familymoved to the capital city ofSt. Petersburg. AlthoughTchaikovsky was a goodmusician as a child, thiswasn’t considered an“acceptable profession; sohis parents made him studylaw instead. Even in lawschool, however, the youngcomposer continued topursue music. Eventually hegave up his legal job toattend the St. PetersburgConservatory.
After graduation,Tchaikovsky moved toMoscow to teach at the newmusic conservatory there. Itis now named after him.Although he composedmusic in many differentstyles, Tchaikovsky is mostfamous for his ballets.Maybe you’ve heard or seensome of them; they includeSleeping Beauty, Swan Lakeand The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker is a storywritten by a German, E.T.A.Hoffman. Tchaikovsky washired in 1891 by the St.Petersburg Opera to writemusic for a ballet based onthis tale. Initially, he did notlike the idea of setting thework around a children’sChristmas party. Luckily,the choreographers wereable to convince him to keepthis setting. The Nutcracker
The Nutcrackerdebuted on December 17,1892, in the MariinskyTheatre, the home of theKirov Ballet. It was notperformed outside of Russiauntil 1934. Since then, itwas been one of the mostpopular ballets of all time.
The Nutcracker is a holidayfairy tale about a young girlClara, and her favoriteChristmas gift, a nutcracker.During her family’s holidayparty, Clara’s brother breaksthis toy. GodfatherDrosselmeyer uses hisspecial powers to repair it.Later that night, Clara isawakened by the sound ofscurrying mice, who havecome to attack her and thenutcracker. Magically, thetoy comes to life and fightsoff the animals. Once theMouse King is defeated, thespell that has been cast overthe nutcracker is broken andit is revealed to be ahandsome prince.
This prince then takes Clarato his Kingdom of Sweets,where he shows her all of itsdelights. The “Dance of theReed Pipes” and the“Russian Dance” are two ofthe performances seen inthis special place. Men inflowing shirts and redbreeches most often dancethe “Russian Dance.” The“Dance of the Reed Pipes”is usually performed bythree people dressed asshepherdesses. The trill ofthe flutes and the music ofthe woodwinds help createits dainty scene.
WGUC sincerely thanksThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater Foundation
for its sustaining support since theinception of
Classics for Kids®.
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“Russian Dance” Listening Map
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“Dance of the Reed Pipes” Listening map
All of the words below have something to do with the story of The
Nutcracker. See if you can find them in the puzzle above.
Ballet Nutcracker Prince
Chinese Tea Chocolate Dance Reeds
Clara Fritz Drosselmeyer
Snowflakes Sugar Plums Marzipan
Tchaikovsky Mother Goose Toy Soldiers
Mouse King Waltz
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