| Famous International Dances: Transcarpathian "Oak-dance":
The Flamenco originated in the south part of Spain in Andalusia. The Flamenco is displayed in three forms - Song, Dance and Guitar.
There is no united clear-cut opinion concerning its origin, as the flamenco is deep rooted in history, and also there is no documentary information, which would clear some doubts. Most likely, the flamenco art originated in national songs and dances, which existed in Andalusia in an ancient era. The style of flamenco is based on traditional rhythms. However, various civilizations, races and cultures, which existed in Andalusia, lent their influence and have somewhat influenced the rhythm and harmony of the modern flamenco.
The first documented mention of the flamenco is found in "The Moroccan Letters" (Cadalso 1774). In them, the author attributes the flamenco's authorship to gypsies. It is true in some context. Non-European rhythms, which exist in the flamenco, are surprisingly similar to the difficult Asian rhythms, which originated in India, and it is not an incidental coincidence, that gypsies come from India. Also, gypsies were the main supporters and carriers of the flamenco through the years, selflessly representing it.
Mazurka (Polish - mazurek) - Polish folk dance:
The name came from the inhabitants of Mazovia – the mazoshanami, who were the first to perform this dance. Musical scale — 3/4 or 3/8, fast pace. Frequent sharp accents change to second and sometimes the third part of the tact. In the17th century, the mazurka entered a series of Polish peasant dances. In the 19th century, it spread as a ball dance in the European countries.
Actually, three national Polish dances are concealed under the name of "mazurka". The first of them - Mazur. Оberek - is a version of the mazur with more whimsical rhythmic forms and a characteristic stress on the third part of every second tact. Kuyavyak - is the lyrical, slow form of the mazurka, the third part of which is similar to a waltz.
The mazurka had a big role in the affirmation process for the originality of Polish musical culture. In classical music, the mazurka is closely associated with the name of the Polish composer Chopin, who composed more than 60 mazurkas. For him, the true son of Poland, the mazourka was similar to a page from his personal diary, where he expresses his deep love for his motherland both as an artist and as a person.
Chopin's mazourka is always a chamber type, unlike his own polonaises - dances of a big scale and large form. The composer uses characteristic features of all kinds of mazurka, often combining them in one creation. Chopin divided the mazurkas into three basic types: rural sketches-pictures ("images"), urban (shining) and lyrical mazurkas. The sharp rhythm, accentuation, punctuation, whimsicality of rhythmic pattern, folk modes (in particular, phrygian and Lydian, and also Hungarian scale and major-minor), subdominant (plagal) harmony sphere are always characteristic. Dramatics are bright, contentious; many contrasts can be combined in one mazourka.
In Russian music, M.I.Glinka, P.I.Tchaikovsky, A.K.Liadov, A.N.Skriabin, A.K.Glazunov's mazurkas are well-known.
The minuet (French: menuet, from menu - small) is an old french folk graceful dance, named so due to its small steps. It is written in double-track syllable, in triple meter (3/4). From the mid 17th century- a ball dance. Widely spread in Europe.
Often the first minuet is followed by a second, in the same key or in a key a fifth below the main (but not a fifth above). If the first minuet is a major, the second is quite often written in minor with the same name. The second minuet is called a trio.
In ancient minuets, the first minuet was written in double voice and the second - in three parts. After every second minuet, there is a repetition of the first. A small coda is done very often in the end of a minuet. Although, the dance was performed by a minuet is quite smooth and slow, but minuet music should be moderately fast. The music of the first minuets is lully. The minuet was a court dance during Louis XIV rule.
From France, it spread to other countries; in Russia, it appeared during Peter the Great's rule. The minuet was written by almost all composers of instrumental music both old as well as in the 19th century. Particularly, the artistically made minuet were created by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Haydn was the first who introduced the minuet to symphonies. From Russian composers, outstanding minuets were created by Glinka and Rubinshtein. Presently, the minuet as a dance, is out of fashion, but the minuet in music form continues to be explored. |
