This month will end in a holiday that is full of mystery and darkness. The famous Halloween that came from the United States is now celebrated far beyond the borders of this country. It has already created certain associations for us in terms of dressing, atmosphere and, of course, music.
But some music pieces have earned the title of ‘most Halloween’ ones. Danse Macabre composed by the great French composed Camille Saint-Saens is definitely one of the Halloween’s main themes. What can be more related to this holiday than the “Dance of Death”? The score was created by the great composer in 1874 and was based on the popular French superstition according to which the last walk to other world was a special ceremony equal for everyone, no matter whether you were rich or poor, or what your status had been. The art genre that was born from it typically looked like a long dance to the grave with people from different social layer, popes, emperors, common people – to prove the vain of human glories.
The piece first started as an art song and was later expanded to a tone poem. The motif somewhat reminds of composer’s “The Carnival of Animals” and each instrument has its theater role – xylophone for bones’ rattling, oboes for crows, etc. Though not received well from the very beginning, Danse Macabre soon became pretty popular. Especially its arranged versions like Liszt’s and Horowitz’ piano arrangements, Lemare’s arrangement for pipe organ and others.
But some music pieces have earned the title of ‘most Halloween’ ones. Danse Macabre composed by the great French composed Camille Saint-Saens is definitely one of the Halloween’s main themes. What can be more related to this holiday than the “Dance of Death”? The score was created by the great composer in 1874 and was based on the popular French superstition according to which the last walk to other world was a special ceremony equal for everyone, no matter whether you were rich or poor, or what your status had been. The art genre that was born from it typically looked like a long dance to the grave with people from different social layer, popes, emperors, common people – to prove the vain of human glories.
The piece first started as an art song and was later expanded to a tone poem. The motif somewhat reminds of composer’s “The Carnival of Animals” and each instrument has its theater role – xylophone for bones’ rattling, oboes for crows, etc. Though not received well from the very beginning, Danse Macabre soon became pretty popular. Especially its arranged versions like Liszt’s and Horowitz’ piano arrangements, Lemare’s arrangement for pipe organ and others.