Nutcracker Music Analysis

A. In Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Tchaikovsky’s main music characteristic is Russian folk music. He does like to use some elements from French, Italian, and German music.

On November 25, 2017 I attended The Nutcracker ballet performance at the Eisemann Center. The dance was adapted from a story by E.T.A Hoffman with the music by Tchaikovsky. The show was a faithful adaptation of The Nutcracker with the dancers, costumes, sets, and Tchaikovsky’s music all playing an integral part in depicting the story in an entertaining way. Overall, the presentation was successful in portraying the holiday classic that is The Nutcracker, and the majestic sets and costumes along with the music allowed for sustained attention and spectacle that was still true to the narrative of The Nutcracker. The production did this by having grand, bright costumes and sets that resembled the time period of The Nutcracker and depicted the setting of the dances, the original music by Tchaikovsky which was able to produce the emotions that come with the story, and lighting techniques that showed the weather and time of day which helped show what scenes were being told throughout the performance.

The last reason he is clever was for a situations on the plane. The book says, “Wait a minute… asking him to carry it” (Horowitz 148-149). The quote explains that he was undercover with a couple of CIA agents and the woman who was acting as the mother said he should keep is seatbelt because the seatbelt light was still on and instead of saying no and make a scene with his fake mom he said ok mother and put his seatbelt back on. Also at the start of the plane flight they have him a Gameboy, which he thought was just a nice gift, but he realized they gave it to him because he would look the least suspicious with it because it had gadgets in it which would help them on the mission. The second word that describes Alex is curious. Towards the beginning of the book it states, “He was in a underground… telephone conversation in his mind” (Horowitz 46-47). The quote is about when he followed the guard around the tennis courts to see whom he was going to meet. Later, he realized that it was a trap, which led to the fight where he knocked out the security

The young Peter would enter a ministry of Justice as a clerk in 1859 (Mason 1). Tchaikovsky stayed there four years despite the long journey to Western Europe and increasing involvement in music. In 1863 he entered the conservatory where he took private teachings and focused all his energy to his music and compositions.

     The music helped in elaborating this great film. As I mentioned in class different instruments helped create different moods for different scenes in the movie. We heard the cello and the violin to create sadness and remorse. The flute created eeriness and the trumpet created awareness. I thought these were instruments and tools that help make this film extraordinary.

Alex was interested in the history of wars but he is not realizing war is very harming and the impacts it has on people. Alex has a very arrogant and opinionated personality because he does not think beyond; for example, he only cared about the strategies but he is not going beyond of what people had to go through and their emotions. He only cared about his thoughts and opinions and does not care what other people had to say. This also proves that he thought his dad was immature when he said, “Sometimes I wonder if my father will ever grow up” (Bell 1). When Alex and his father Ted came off the plane, Alex had to handle the boarding

produced a resonance distinct to the music in that era. Also, African American musicians called

After graduating from college, McCandless had left his Datsun, donated all his savings to charity, and burned all the spare cash he has on him, and took off. Leaving Chris McCandless behind, and beginning the life of Alexander Supertramp. Alex had made lots of new friends that he had grown bonds within a short amount of time, such as Franz, Gallien, Westerberg, etc. But Alex had obstacles and messes that he had gotten himself into.

He meets people from all over and charms them, even people who hardly know him. Wayne’s mother, Mary, knew him for one night and later states, “Considering that I only spent a few hours in Alex’s company, it amazes me how much I’m bothered by his death” (Krakauer 124). Chris, at this point going by the name “Alexander Supertramp” (Krakauer 52), tells them stories about his travels, his beliefs, and his plans to live in the Alaskan wilderness. Many of the people he meets he becomes close with, and, makes sure to stay in contact with. Several of the people he met for just a short time suggested he contact them after his adventure, if only so they would know what become of him. Quite a few of them find themselves thinking of Alex as something like a son. One man, Ronald Franz, grew so attached to Alex that he asked if he could adopt him as his grandson. Alex brushes off the request by saying they’ll talk about it later, probably figuring Franz will let it

“Don’t settle down and sit in one place. Mover around, be nomadic make each day a new horizon, you are still going to live long time, Ron and it would be a shame if you did not take the opportunity to revolutionize your life and move into an entirely new realm of existence” (page 57). This was sent in a letter to Ron and was one of the last times he heard from Alex. This shows how Alex truly believed in the life that he was living.

This “program music” included many odd instruments like the harp, oboe, and tuba. In another composition, Tchaikovsky used actual cannons (1812 Overture). He went on to compose many outstanding pieces. Collectively, Tchaikovsky had composed 169 pieces, including symphonies, operas, ballets, concertos, cantatas, and songs. His most famed and easily recognizable works include Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker.

Each put their own style towards the ever changing world of music. The styles changed with the music. Music helped play a part in what people were wearing and also how they started acting. People also tended to lean towards certain parts of music. It was like they dressed the part.

(Alexsis’ Past/& Now) Alexsis’ family members is only his 8 year old little brother, Gabriel. His Mom, Dad, and Older Sister Sara died in an accident 4 years ago. His grandma then took care of him until she was diagnosed with cancer, (she died 2 years later). Alexsis and his little brother Gabriel now live with their Aunt name Rosie. Alexsis currently lives in Los Angeles with his Aunt. Alexsis’ full name is Alexsis Worthy. He is 18 years old, and has been to places such as New Zealand, Las Vegas, England, and Canada. His hobbies are to travel, play basketball, and make origamis. He has graduated in high school with a diploma, and now is in college studying the course of Engineering.

For example the Armenian ,Medieval period pieces were mostly low pitched and slow because they were supposed to make you feel sad and feel bad in a way they were slow pieces that did not have fast paces notes that made you feel excited and happy they were pieces that made you feel down and sad. I really enjoyed listening to Alexander Konstantinovich musical pieces because most of what was played was high pitched and fast paced, me personally I enjoy that a bit more then low pitched and slow they are fast and fun. For example land of heroes was a high pitched fast piece because it makes you think of people winning a war and there are the heroes of the land so it gives you an exciting good feeling of accomplishment, where the Armenian chants were from the medieval times and were made of more low pitches notes and gave you a feeling of sadness.

From September of 1850 to May of 1859, Tchaikovsky attended the School of Jurisprudence. At this boarding school in St. Petersburg, he received an excellent education and further pursued his interest in music. During this time,