What dances were in West Side Story?
“Somewhere” (Adagio) – In a visionary dance sequence, the two gangs are united in friendship. Scherzo (Vivace leggiero) – In the same dream, they break through the city walls and suddenly find themselves in a world of space, air, and sun. Mambo (Presto) – Reality again; competitive dance between the gangs.
Who composed Symphonic Dances from West Side Story?
Bernstein
In the opening weeks of 1961, Bernstein revisited his score for West Side Story and extracted nine sections to assemble into what he called the Symphonic Dances.
What is the musical style of Bernstein?
Bernstein’s works abound with jazz influences and rhythms. His score for clarinet solo and jazz ensemble, Prelude, Fugue and Riffs (1949), was commissioned for Woody Herman’s jazz band. In the same year, a movement of his Symphony No. 2: The Age of Anxiety, was written for solo jazz piano and percussion.
What is a symphonic dance?
The Symphonic Dances combine energetic rhythmic sections, reminiscent of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, with some of the composer’s lushest harmonies. The rhythmic vivacity, a characteristic of Rachmaninoff’s late style, may have been further heightened here for two reasons.
What does the dancing represent in West Side Story?
What’s harder to spot is the way dance can tell a story: to move the narrative forward and show us the relationship between the characters. Take the “America” sequence, which shows the competition but seductive playfulness between the Puerto Rican men and women.
What are Symphonic Dances?
When was Symphonic Dances from West Side Story written?
1961
Due to the immediate success that West Side Story received from critics and audiences, Bernstein soon adapted it into the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story in 1961.
What made Leonard Bernstein famous?
Leonard Bernstein, (born August 25, 1918, Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.—died October 14, 1990, New York, New York), American conductor, composer, and pianist noted for his accomplishments in both classical and popular music, for his flamboyant conducting style, and for his pedagogic flair, especially in concerts for …
What is the musical elements of Philip Glass?
Glass had a similar number of diverse musical styles, he has often embraced in his compositions, some of which include the intricate features of ethnic fusion, modern world fusion, keyboards, opera, ballet and chamber music.
When was Symphonic Dances composed?
1940Symphonic Dances / Composed
Rachmaninoff’s last major work, the Symphonic Dances for orchestra, was composed in 1940, about two years before his death.