1. 8th Grade General Music
Beth Sundquist

2. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
born Kamsko-Votkinsk, May 7, 1840
died St. Petersburg, November 6, 1893
Russian nationalist composer
Late Romantic Period

3. Childhood/Schooling Father was a mine inspector
Started piano lessons at age five
At age ten he was sent to the School of Jurisprudence at St. Petersburg
Mother died when he was 14
He was a very sensitive child and parting from his mother was difficult
At 19 he took a post at the Ministry of Justice
In 1863 he entered the Conservatory, also undertaking private teaching

4. Early Life He was often depressed and insecure around people
Known homosexual
Married Antonina Ivanova Miliukova in 1877
She left him after only nine weeks
Attempted suicide
Nervous breakdown
Nadejda von Meck - pen pal and subsidizer for 14 years
Terminated relationship in 1890 for fear of bankruptcy

5. Late Romantic Period 1850-1900 Focused on self-expression in music
Many new and diverse musical styles emerged
Grand opera is the most noted form of this period
Musical storytelling was also popular
Romantic music is more lyrical/programmatic than music of the Classical era

6. The Nutcracker Suite
First performance December 18, 1892 in St. Petersburg
Overture
Marche
Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
Trepak- Russian Dance
Arab Dance
Chinese Dance
Dance of the Reed Pipes
Waltz of the Flowers

7. Overture Christmas at the Stahlbaum home
Clara’s godfather makes magical toys
Clara gets a Nutcracker doll, brother Fritz breaks it, godfather fixes doll
Clara gets up in the night for her doll,falls asleep under the Christmas tree, starts to dream

8. Marche
The Mouse King attacks, the Nutcracker Prince tries to defend Clara, but is struck down
Clara defeats the Mouse King by throwing her shoe
Clara kisses the Nutcracker Prince and he turns human
They travel through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets

9. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
In the Land of Sweets, Clara and the Prince meet the Sugar-Plum Fairy
She invites them to stay and be entertained by her subjects

10. Trepak - Russian Dance

11. Arab Dance

12. Chinese Dance

13. Dance of the Reed Pipes

14. Waltz of the Flowers

15. The End
Clara and the Nutcracker Prince return home on a sleigh of ice and candy
Clara awakens from her dream