...by important subsided companies, including the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Companies. The former stages classical and modem plays from all countries; the latter presents Shakespearean plays in Stratford-upon-Avon and a mixed repertoire in London. Many non-repertoire theatres outside London present all kinds of drama and many also put on variety shows and other entertainment. Music in all its forms — pop music, folk music, jazz, light music and brass bands — plays an important role in British cultural life. The widespread interest in classical music is reflected in the large audiences at orchestral concerts and at performances of opera, ballet and chamber music. Regular seasons of opera and ballet are given at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Seasons of opera and operetta in English are given by the English National Opera. There are several thousands of amateur dramatic societies in Britain (some 200 amateur youth theatres among them). Most Universities have active amateur drama clubs and societies. Until reccently the history of the english theatre has been buildaround actors rather then companies. It was hard to find any Londontheatre that even had a consistent policy. There is no permanent staffin British theatres. A play is rehearsed for a few weeks by a company ofactors working together mostly for the first time and it is allowed torun as long as it draws the odious and pays it's way. Another peculiarity of the theatres in Great Britain is as follows:there...
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... 1. Ballet * A type of performance dance that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread, highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary based on French terminology. It has been globally influential and has defined the foundational techniques used in many other dance genres. Ballet may also refer to a ballet dance work, which consists of the choreography and music for a ballet production. A well-known example of this is The Nutcracker, a two-act ballet that was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a music score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. * Ballets are usually theatrical and use elaborate costumes and staging. There are exceptions however, mostly by Balanchine. Ballet is also closely related to opera with many ballet companies stationed in opera houses and many operas, especially French and early Italian operas, containing ballet scenes. There is even a genre called opera-ballet that uses both singers and dancers in the main roles. * Stylistic variations have emerged and evolved since the Italian Renaissance. Early variations are primarily associated with geographic origin. Examples of this are Russian ballet, French ballet, and Italian ballet. Later variations include contemporary ballet and neoclassical ballet. Perhaps the most widely known and performed ballet style is late Romantic ballet (or Ballet blanc)...
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...Great Impact of a King on music and theatre Sinan Erk Mutafoğlu 11149 HUM 204 Prof. Filiz Ali December 2nd, 2011 In the 17th century, France witnessed political, social and artistic facts which were triggered by the relationships between Louis the Fourteenth, Jean-Baptiste Lully and Moliere. This relationship between these important figures of 17th century can also be delineated as the connection between the political power, music and theatre. Before emphasizing the interaction among them, it might be illuminating to specify their backgrounds in order to gain an insight about their relations. Following, I am going to specify on their relationships and their influences on French music and theatre. Louis the 14th, who is named as France’s Sun King, had the longest reign in European history beginning from 1643 until he dies in 1715. He had only five years old when he became the king of France, therefore the reign was almost dominated by the Cardinal until he died in 1661 ( Louis XIV, David J. Sturdy, pg 23 ). Following the cardinal’s death, Louis brought the absolute monarchy at the risk of taking both his mother’s and the council’s reactions (Louis XIV, David J.Sturdy, pg 34). Afterward, these reactions were also gravitated to the relation between Louis, Lully and Moliere. He established Versailles palace...
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...masterful statutes to embrace liberty and transformation in their craft and politics. The Romantic period produced a significant number of the stereotypes of writers and poetry that exist right up 'til the present time that is the poet as an exceptionally tortured and despairing visionary. Romantic artist ideals never particular ceased to exist in poetry, but were impressively understood into the principals of numerous different developments. Remnants of romanticism existed on in the French symbolism and surrealism and in the works of outstanding poets. The history of ballet goes back about 600 years and it has been an expedition of alteration, growth and new ages. It is intriguing to uncover every differentiating times in ballets choreography, so you should identify the seven remote eras in dance history. Ballet has always been developing and progressing with time, fashion and society. Yet now, ballet is carrying on pushing ahead with the past times even developing new styles as well. Through the centuries,...
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...For Beethoven, the sonata form is not a scheme that can be used in caprice one day and abandoned the next. This form dominates everything he imagines and composes; it is the very mark of his creation and the form of his thought – an inherent form, a natural one. (Edwin Fischer, Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas). Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas constitute a great treasure that embodies a part of the human eternity. Numerous pianists and musicologists have researched or studied them, trying to impart to their students or readers the prodigality of these true musical riches. Beethoven holds a key role in the transformation and evolution of the sonata form. Even if he maintains the characteristics initially set by his predecessors, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven imposes on the sonata his strong personality creating a new, impressive, form of art, in which his own life, with its joys and sorrows, is projected. With Beethoven the musical theme acquires remarkable proportions, of such strength, that it imposes itself over the listener’s attention and memory. As the French composer, Vincent d’ Indy once said, with Beethoven, the musical theme turns into an concept that spreads throughout the hole work making it easily recognizable even if harmonic, modal or tonal aspects change. The fundamental principle of organization of the Beethoven piano sonata is the tonality. We can say that Beethoven perceived tonality as the key to any composition, since it leads to the true...
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...Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer during the Romantic period of the 19th century (New World Encyclopedia). Being the most popular Russian composer of all time, Tchaikovsky’s music appealed to the public and evoked an emotional response due to its tuneful, open-hearted melodies, impressive harmonies, and picturesque orchestration (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky). Additionally, he is recognized as one of the world’s most renowned classical composers in regards to his distinct Russian character (New World Encyclopedia). Tchaikovsky’s lifestyle was a major influence on his works, thus leading him to provide his audience with a glimpse of going beyond their nationalistic tendencies to grasp the world (New World Encyclopedia). He had an interest...
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...Classical ballet is a traditional, formal style of ballet formed in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th to 16th century. It is known for its accurate and scrupulous technique including of pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions. It requires graceful and precise movements as well as having elegant qualities. Classical ballet has since become a highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. It is an extremely influential form of dance which has spread all around the world. After its formation in the 15th century, classical ballet quickly travelled to France where it soon developed into an art form. However, during the beginning, court ballets were performed by amateur dancers rather than professionals. Most of ballet's early movements had evolved from the social court dances and featured stage patterns rather than formal ballet technique that we have today. The current ballet technique includes of the 5 arm and feet positions produced by Pierre Beauchamp in. These positions are a fundamental part of classical ballet and are very important because every basic move in ballet begins and ends in one of the five positions. In first position, the balls of the feet are turned out completely. The heels touch each other and the feet face outward. In second position, the balls of both feet are turned out completely. The heels are separated, standing around shoulder width apart. Second position is very similar to first position, but the feet are spread apart...
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...Europe. Darwin's newly elaborated evolutionary idea was the pivot for social Darwinism, a theory based on the gradual movement of the species toward greater self-awareness and strength. Shaw described this process in his play Man and Superman. Freud also utilized the concept in his libido theory. Horney interpreted the process as a psychic response to the intense societal pressures to succeed. A linkage of interdependence and progression of these ideas emerges as the world continues to evolve. What allowed dance forms such as ballet to develop at this time? Ballet is a formalized form of dance with its origins in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th and 16th centuries. It quickly spread to the French court of Catherine de' Medici where it was developed even further. In the late 17th century Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Musique (the Paris Opera) within which emerged the first professional theatrical ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet. Discuss the significance of Darwin and Darwinian theory on modern scientific thought. In short, it is horribly antiquated. If you read "Origin" you will see that Darwin fully expected someone to find the transitional fossil record linking man with beast. That has not and will not happened. Moreover, if you research Darwin's life, he disputed his own theory before he passed away. Finally, scientists today, while remarkably smart and advanced (thankfully), still overlook/dismiss the gap in the fossil record and extrapolate...
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...in 1901 and when the magazine ceased publishing in 1904, he focused on organizing galleries of Russian art in St. Petersburg and Paris. In 1908, he took a production of "Boris Godunov" to Paris, with renowned singer, Feodor Chaliapin. In 1909, Diaghilev took with him to Paris a season of opera and ballet, and with the greatest dancers of the Maryinsky behind him, he had a great victory. Constant visits helped him form his own company, Ballet Russes, in 1911. This company was not connected to any opera, it was a lone company. Diaghilev directed this company until his death on August 19, 1929. The company never performed in Russia. Diaghilev didn’t have the money to keep his project up in Paris. By the time he finished his first season in Paris, he was doing this during the dancers yearly time off. Diaghilev worked with many composers, artists, and dancers like Pablo Picasso, Igor Stravinsky, and Vaslav Nijinsky. It was after the World War I, when Diaghilev was banned from Russia. After his death in 1929, the Ballet Russes disbanded. Four years later, another company got the financial support and leadership to start up the company again. The company used many of the same dancers from the Ballet Russes. Diaghilev...
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...Around the 1900s some American dancers started to rebel against the strict and confining style of Classical Ballet. Modern dance is very vivid, ever changing and full of expression. Dancer’s like Alvin Ailey helped upgrade modern dance as we now see it. Alvin Ailey was born January 5, 1931. He spent the first twelve years of his life in various Texas small towns with only his mother to provide for the family since his father abandoned them when Alvin was only six moths old. Ailey grew up in the stereotypical black, impoverished south, constantly surrounded by religion. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, his professional dance company, and his audiences. African American art, in any form, is the combination of a variety of influences, which Ailey viewed as American culture. African American dance itself is a combination of movement and cultural influences from West African culture, Afro-Caribbean culture, and Euro-American culture 1958: First Performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 1960: Alvin Ailey's Masterpiece Revelations Is Born 1962: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Goes On International Tour 1965: Judith Jamison's First Performance With Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 1966: Ailey Performs in Inaugural Arts Festival in Senegal 1971: Alvin Ailey Choreographs Cry 1972: Judith Jamison Receives Dance Magazine Award 1974: Ailey Leaps From the Stage to the Screen 1974: Ailey Performs at the Duke Ellington Festival ...
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...Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy and is always performed around the holiday season. The ballet was not well received by critics when first played, but was loved years later. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on December 18, 1892. Sleeping Beauty was first performed in 1890 and is based on Charles Perrault's La Belle au bois dormant. The choreographer was Marius Petipa. The premiere was at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on January 15, 1890. Swan Lake premiered in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and like The Nutcracker it was a failure when first premiered. It was choreographed by Julius Reisinger. Tchaikovsky wrote the score for Eugene Onegin, opera, Op. 24 based on a work by Pushkin that was written in 1877. The Opera 101 says: “Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin is a radiant example of Russian Lyric Opera. A deeply moving tale packed with big tunes, dances and a heart-stopping duel. As with his ballets, Tchaikovsky brings many symphonic elements to the music, plush orchestrations and highly melodic arias.” When he finished the opera in January of 1878 he was concerned about what criticisms it would receive if played at one of the grand opera houses, so Tchaikovsky let the students of the Moscow Conservatory premiere it in March of 1878. A couple of years later, after Tchaikovsky adjusted some things in the opera, Eugene Onegin made its professional debut at the Bolshoi Theatre in January...
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...von Laban’s systematization of “quality in movement”: Space: indirect, direct Time: sustained, quick Weight: strong, light Flow: free, bound Acc. to Laban, all human movement exhibits constellations of these factors that form identifiable textures or qualities of movement. 1 2. The characteristic use of the parts of the body with their symbolic associations. Solar plexus (Duncan), lower abdomen and pelvis as an isolable area (Graham), fixed/vertical torso (ballet). Pelvis: sexual, primitive instincts and desires Chest: emotions and feelings Head: intellect, rationality, process of thinking 3. Characteristic use of “performance space”. (a three dimensional spatial grid symbolically defines the space) i.e. movements that occur in the air (jumps & lifts) or gestures towards upper space – mostly associated with the pure, heavenly, etc. movements on the flor –associations with more earthly existence. 2 THEATRE DANCE From Aristocratic Entertainments (1300-1600) to Court Spectacles (1530s-1640s) to French Court Ballet – “The Sun King” Dancing (1650-1700s) French nobility “dancing” in the entertainments and spectacles to show off their power and dignity. Spectacles organized by courts, dukedoms, etc. quickly became competitive, one court trying to display greater power and wealth than another. Idealisation of aristocratic power became the new impetus for dance. Court entertainments were prepared with great care. They were 4-5 hours elaborate programs consisting of unconnected...
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...During his early career he became part of the Composers Union of Moscow in which he was a deputy chairman which ultimately ended up with him becoming part of the Communist Party. This was now a era of war, and it was also the era of Kachaturian. During the years surrounding World War II, Kachaturian became on of the more productive composers. He had visited Armenia and studied fold music from his homeland as well as folk dance music. He took all the knowledge about music and dance he learned from his homeland and combined into a piece in which he shortly after composed his firs ballet which became known as...
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...Ashley Stoica Music Appreication Mrs. Gaskill Tuesday November 30,2010 Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is a Russia composerof the Romantic Era.He was born on May 7,1840 in Kamsku-Votkinsk, Russia, in the western Ura; Vyatka province of Russia, 630 miles from Moscow. He shares his birthday with another famous Romantic composer, Johanes Brahm, born seven years ahead of him. Tchaikovsky as the son of a enginer/ Mine Inspector, which allowed them to live comfortably. His mother greatly influecned his educational and cultrual upbringings because of her French and Russian hertiage. He was the oldest of four children. Tchaikovsky and his brothersand siste had a sound eduacation from thier French goveness. His parents sometimes took him to concert. One time after a conert, he would complained that he could not fall asleep because of the music stuck in his head. At age 4, he and sister composed a song for thier mother. At age 6, he was able to read in French and German. He reguraly received piano lessons from his nanny, Fanny Durbach. He was devoted to his mother, when she died when his was 14, it devasted him greatly. That same year he turned to serious compostion. He attented law school in St. Peterburg, Russia, and while studying law and Governement, he took music lesson, including some composing from Gabreial Lomerkin. He graduated at the age of nineteen and took a job as a burea clerk. He worked hard, but he hated his jobl by the time he was totally absorbed...
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...Culture Paper – Russia Russia is the world’s largest nation by area, as it extends throughout Northern Asian and Eastern Europe, exhibiting much diversity in geography, ethnicities and cultures. Russia has been through several phases of governance which spans from a history of migrating peoples and ancient kingdoms to the Kievan Rus, Peter the Great, the Slavs, Tsardom, Imperialism, Revolution and the Russian Republic, Soviet Russia, the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. These aspects of Russian history are important to Russian culture because they have made Russia (its people, architecture, food, festivals, language, literature and art) what they are today. Though those who live in Russia are called “Russians,” over 180 various ethnic groups can be found in Russia. Russian is the official language, though over 100 languages are spoken by its peoples. Besides the Slavs (Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians), who account for about 80 percent of Russia's population, three main ethnic groups and a handful of isolated smaller groups reside within the federation. The majority of Russians identify with the Eastern Orthodox (Christian) religion, but Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism are also practiced in Russia. Islam, professed by about 19 percent of believers in the mid1990s, is numerically the second most important religion in Russia. Various non-Orthodox Christian denominations and a dwindling but still important Jewish population complete the list of major religious ...
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