The Nutcracker

[darkphantomime]

I'm sorry, but this time of year has really gotten to me... Even despite not hearing music from the Nutcracker for so long, I just can't stop the tunes that keep playing in my head...

Russian Trepak anyone? Or maybe Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy?

I just can't get that wonderful melody out of my head, especially when it's dark and my christmas tree is lit...

[Gamefreak]

I have to play them all Sunday.  I have a solo in Arabian Dance(I think that's the name.)

[Mysterious F.]

I'm not much of a music person.

[darkphantomime]

I believe that the arabian dance is part of the divertisement of the Nutcracker, I think it's otherwise nicknamed as "Coffee", other parts to that part are The chinese Dance, AKA, 'tea'; Russian dance, aka 'trepak', There's also a dance called chocolate, but I can't remember what kinda dance it was associated with...

Say, GF, your school music department wouldn't happen to have a strings section would it? How about the Cembella, that instrument that's associated with the Sugarplum fairy?

[Zelda Veteran]

The nut cracker song always freaks me out. I dont know why, but it scares me. :-[

[darkphantomime]

Dude, I can't believe your afraid of the Nutcracker. I myself am reminded of equally freaky, but very beautiful movies by Tim Burton. Dark as a winter night, but beautiful as christmas warmth. Movies like Batman, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands remind me of the freaky parts of snow, parts that I'm reminded  when listening to the musixbox like effect of the Cembella. It's weird, but I really like those kind of things that are little freaky and weird, but have the dark side that intriques me with christmas melodies as a backdrop.

Sorta reminds me of an episode of Batman animated series, when I think the Joker went a little sadistic with his toys and things... I think it may have been a christmas special... WEEEEEEEEE...

[Gamefreak]

No, we're just brass, woodwind, and percussion.

[darkphantomime]

No, we're just brass, woodwind, and percussion.

But how do you guys replicate the sounds of strings?? I've always wondered how some schools were able to replicate things scored for a full orchestra, but the schools don't have strings...

Hmmm... What instruments can the saxophones double for? You know, since a lot of classical works, until fairly recently, omitted the sax from scoring.

[Zelda Veteran]

I just sent this to DPM. Im like the episode, it's wierd, and makes your head spin. Its like a dream, and thats why i love the series. it's like watching someone else's nightmare. It's called the nut cracker, so it has some significance here.

[MasterKeyX]

WAIT, there's a movie called the Nut Cracker? Or a song?

[darkphantomime]

Guh, it's not a song, it's a ballet!

The entire thing with complete music can last up to 90 minutes. Some of the more famous pieces of it are collected in The Nutcracker Suite, which consists of:

   * I. Overture
   * II. Danses caractéristiques
         o A. Marche
         o B. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy [ending altered from ballet-version]
         o C. Russian Trepak
         o D. Arabian Coffee
         o E. Chinese Tea
         o F. Reed-Flutes
   * III. Waltz of the Flowers

The entire ballet is as such

   * Overture

Act One

Tableau I

   * 1. Scene of decorating and lighting the Christmas tree
   * 2. March
   * 3. Little Gallop [of the children] and entry of the parents
   * 4. Scene dansante [Drosselmeyer's arrival and distribution of presents]
   * 5. Scene and dance of the Grandfather
   * 6. Scene [Departure of the guests -- night]
   * 7. Scene [the battle]

Tableau II

   * 8. Scene [a pine forest in winter]
   * 9. Waltz of the Snowflakes

Act Two

Tableau III

   * 10. Scene [Introduction]
   * 11. Scene [Arrival of Clara and the Prince]
   * 12. Divertissement
         o a. Chocolate (Spanish dance)
         o b. Coffee (Arabian dance)
         o c. Tea (Chinese dance)
         o d. Trepak (Russian Dance)
         o e. Dance of the Mirlitons [also known as "Dance of the Reed-Flutes," "Dance of the Shepherdesses," and "Marzipan"]
         o f. Mother Ginger and the clowns [or "Mother Ginger and her children"]
   * 13. Waltz of the Flowers [also known as "Dew Drops"]
   * 14. Pas de Deux (Sugar-Plum Fairy and a cavalier)
         o Variation I (for the male dancer) [Tarantella]
         o Variation II (for the female dancer) [Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy]
         o Coda
   * 15. Final Waltz and Apotheosis

[MasterKeyX]

Oh, i see.Im gonna go fade away into the backround now.... :-[