0:00 First Deal (Première donne) - Introduction. Alla breve 0:38 - Pas d'action. Meno mosso 1:28 - Dance variation. Moderato assai 3:06 - Dance of the Joker. Stringendo 4:15 - Waltz-Coda. Tranquillo 5:25 Second Deal (Deuxième donne) - Introduction. Alla breve 5:44 - March. Marcia 7:29 - Variation I. Allegretto 8:10 - Variation II 8:56 - Variation III 9:35 - Variation IV 10:11 - Variation V. Sostenuto e pesante 10:49 - Coda. Più mosso 11:36 - Reprise of March. Marcia 12:07 - Ensemble. Con moto 14:45 Third Deal (Troisième donne) - Introduction. Alla breve 15:10 - Waltz. Valse 17:30 - Battle between Spades and Hearts. Presto 19:13 - Final Dance 21:48 - Coda. Tempo del principio
The idea of a card-game ballet had been in Stravinsky’s head for more than a decade - the setting with ‘playing-card costumes and a green-baize gaming-table backdrop’ was visually exciting. The idea of the joker as the disturber might be imagined as the return of the murdered Petrushka from 1911, now free to wreak havoc. Each movement opens with the same music (the shuffle). Within each movement, a wealth of other music is quoted. ‘There are scraps of music by Johann Strauss, Ravel, Beethoven, Debussy, and ultimately, in a piece of hysterical agon with the past, an asymmetrical but fully recognizable reading of Rossini’s overture to The Barber of Seville’. It’s almost like having a band playing just out of hearing at the village bandstand - it’s familiar but not really focused. The final deal, where the Joker gets its comeuppance, is where the Rossini quote makes its appearance.
This is a magnificent performance of a magnificent piece of music. Let me tell you, Stravinsky truly was a genius. I have loved this ballet from the first time I ever heard this, and that was many years ago. All I know is, this is the best performance I've have ever heard of this ballet. Thank you so much for uploading this wonderful recording.
Not gonna lie, the more I listen to this, The more I tend to like it more than some of his more well known ballet music like Rite of Spring or Firebird. It's just constantly fun to listen every now and again. Musical satire of Barber of Seville always cool the hear as well. I feel like this should be included in more standard repertoire but somehow isn't.
![Igor Stravinsky: Danses concertantes [w/score]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/llsIY44riGI/mqdefault.jpg)
![Igor Stravinsky: Danses concertantes [w/score]](/img/tr.png)
![[Score] Vaughan Williams - Old King Cole, ballet for orchestra (1923)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TC9ptRPRz_s/mqdefault.jpg)
0:00 First Deal (Première donne) - Introduction. Alla breve
0:38 - Pas d'action. Meno mosso
1:28 - Dance variation. Moderato assai
3:06 - Dance of the Joker. Stringendo
4:15 - Waltz-Coda. Tranquillo
5:25 Second Deal (Deuxième donne) - Introduction. Alla breve
5:44 - March. Marcia
7:29 - Variation I. Allegretto
8:10 - Variation II
8:56 - Variation III
9:35 - Variation IV
10:11 - Variation V. Sostenuto e pesante
10:49 - Coda. Più mosso
11:36 - Reprise of March. Marcia
12:07 - Ensemble. Con moto
14:45 Third Deal (Troisième donne) - Introduction. Alla breve
15:10 - Waltz. Valse
17:30 - Battle between Spades and Hearts. Presto
19:13 - Final Dance
21:48 - Coda. Tempo del principio
The idea of a card-game ballet had been in Stravinsky’s head for more than a decade - the setting with ‘playing-card costumes and a green-baize gaming-table backdrop’ was visually exciting. The idea of the joker as the disturber might be imagined as the return of the murdered Petrushka from 1911, now free to wreak havoc.
Each movement opens with the same music (the shuffle). Within each movement, a wealth of other music is quoted. ‘There are scraps of music by Johann Strauss, Ravel, Beethoven, Debussy, and ultimately, in a piece of hysterical agon with the past, an asymmetrical but fully recognizable reading of Rossini’s overture to The Barber of Seville’. It’s almost like having a band playing just out of hearing at the village bandstand - it’s familiar but not really focused. The final deal, where the Joker gets its comeuppance, is where the Rossini quote makes its appearance.
This is a magnificent performance of a magnificent piece of music. Let me tell you, Stravinsky truly was a genius. I have loved this ballet from the first time I ever heard this, and that was many years ago. All I know is, this is the best performance I've have ever heard of this ballet. Thank you so much for uploading this wonderful recording.
Not gonna lie, the more I listen to this, The more I tend to like it more than some of his more well known ballet music like Rite of Spring or Firebird. It's just constantly fun to listen every now and again. Musical satire of Barber of Seville always cool the hear as well. I feel like this should be included in more standard repertoire but somehow isn't.
Wonderful Performance!
2:10 Stravinsky goes Mahler lol