Monotonous and crazy
Like a young whirlwind of life,
A noisy whirlwind swirls around the waltz;
Couple flashes after couple.

(“Eugene Onegin” by A.S. Pushkin)

Perhaps thanks to these lines from the novel “Eugene Onegin” by A.S. Pushkin, you guessed that our meeting today is dedicated to the eternal symbol of romanticism, this living, flying, poetic, flexible, gentle dance called WALTZ.

How musical genre Waltz lived an eventful life. Hundreds of composers have composed waltzes, many of them have been written, tens of thousands, maybe even a million; no one has calculated this anywhere. But let’s imagine that there is a “waltz museum”; we go there on an excursion to get acquainted with the most interesting, most diverse “exhibits”.

Humanity has been dancing since time immemorial. Already in rock paintings, created several thousand years ago, there are images of dancing people. And in the works of painting and sculpture that have come down to us Ancient Greece and Rome, Ancient Egypt And China's dance stories are endless. And next to a person dancing, a person is often depicted playing, with a musical instrument in his hands. Music and dance are inseparable friends; dance without music is almost unthinkable. Dancing without music is like dancing without water. From ancient times to the present day, people have been dancing - on holidays or simply on free evenings, having fun at ease or participating in ceremonies. Many centuries ago, dances could be seen both in rural squares, where peasants twirled to the simple accompaniment of homemade instruments, and in magnificent palace halls, accompanied by trumpets, viols or an orchestra. Most of these dances have survived to this day in one form or another.

The fate of Austrian dance is interesting Landler. This paired circular 3-beat dance takes its name from the Austrian region of Landal. IN early XIX century, it moved from the countryside of Austria and Germany to city halls. They began to dance him at balls and gradually he became famous and beloved by everyone. Waltz.

There are no eternal dances. Sooner or later, their rhythms lag behind the rapid pace of life. The time for the waltz has passed. It is danced very little, and then not in everyday life, but as a ballroom dance. And yet he is alive. Classical music preserved it for humanity. Capturing, with the help of a waltz, his era - golden for music of the XIX century, she raised his common, everyday intonations to the level of high art, for which the change of eras is not only not scary, but also helps to see the value of his creations.

Piano waltzes by Chopin, Schubert, Liszt, symphonic “Waltz – Fantasy” by Glinka, ballet and symphonic waltzes by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev, as well as various arrangements for many popular instruments - all this belongs to the treasury of musical classics.

Now the waltz of the “King” will sound Viennese Waltz” Johann Strauss “Voices of Spring”.

1. I. Strauss “Voices of Spring”

Waltz – in German “Walzer”, which means “rotational”, “dance - spinning”. In the old days, the Germans also called this same dance “roller” - “kruzhenets” or “dreer” - “vertenets”. The names are different, but the meaning is similar. Why are all the words German? Because, according to its ancient origin, it is a German peasant dance. By the way, it was once called that way: “Deutscher” - “German” or “Lendler” - “peasant”. Here are two more interesting names for the waltz: “spinner” - “spinner” and “shleifer” - “grinder”. They also hint at rotational movements. But in these names interesting feature there are - they are imitative. The movements of the waltz, it turns out, once imitated the work of a spinner and a grinder. People, it turns out, enjoy repeating the dance movements that they see around them. In the end, all the names were forgotten, only one remained - Waltz- a dance that is danced in pairs, spinning, spinning.

Let's spin together in this gentle and poetic dance. Now the Russian waltz will sound. For Russian composers, the waltz is not only a dance, but also a way of conveying various feelings and moods. So, the “Melancholy Waltz” by A. Dargomyzhsky sounds.

2. A. Dargomyzhsky “Melancholy Waltz”

The path of the waltz to universal recognition was not easy. The aristocratic and bourgeois environment found much in the new dance unacceptable. The movements of the waltz were considered indecent: has it ever been seen that a gentleman in front of everyone would hug a young lady and press her to him... Terrible! As one French journalist said, “the limit of obscenity and obscenity.” There were official and unofficial protests against the waltz. In Vienna in the first decade of the 19th century, it was forbidden to dance a waltz for more than ten minutes. In Russia, the waltz was also persecuted. Catherine the Second disliked him, and under Paul the First a police order was published prohibiting “the use of the dance called walsen.”

But the prohibitions did not help, and the waltz spread across Europe, as it was said in one treatise, “like an epidemic of the common cold.” The waltz microbe turned out to be terribly contagious. End of the 18th century. Vienna is the capital of Austria. On the throne - no matter what the emperor's name was, truly on the throne Waltz. The waltz is danced by everyone, everywhere. The great composer V.A. Mozart, also a Viennese, laughs: “It’s funny to see how people begin to walk in circles in the German manner to any tune, even one that is not at all suitable.” A visiting foreigner notes in his diary: “The whole city, from the washerwoman to the nobleman, is spinning, there is some kind of dancing disease in the waltz!”

Soon, in the 19th century, an epidemic called “Waltz” swept the whole world. How did those sick with the waltz feel? Slight dizziness, a feeling of happiness, some kind of poetic oblivion. And persistent reluctance to be treated. Moreover, there were composers who did everything possible for worldwide distribution Waltz.

Many Russian composers turned to this genre. He was part of social life. The ability to dance and play the waltz was a sign of good upbringing. The waltz was so popular that it was composed and performed not only by composers, but also by poets. An example can be “Waltz” by the Russian playwright, poet and musician A.S. Griboedova. In fact, this waltz is the first Russian instrumental waltz that has survived to this day thanks to its artistic merits. He is popular, well-known and loved by the widest circles of music lovers. So, “Waltz” by A. Griboyedov sounds.

3. A. Griboyedov “Waltz”

Here is a new milestone on the clock of history: the 20th century, and with what ease, with what freshness the waltz fights. Our program will continue with an ancient waltz “ Autumn dream”English composer Archibald Joyce. Having started his career as a dancer, he, having organized his own dance group, which became one of the most popular in the country, began composing music. These were mainly waltzes, which gave their author an honorary title of the English Waltz King. In 1909, Archibald Joyce toured Europe as a conductor. It is quite possible that it was then that he visited Russia, where his waltzes, especially “Autumn Dream,” were loved and remembered. Numerous editions of the sheet music of waltzes and records with their recordings were published in huge numbers in Russia. At the same time, in the pre-revolutionary years, the first song versions of the waltz “Autumn Dream” appeared. Now we will hear this waltz “Autumn Dream” by Archibald Joyce.

4. A. Joyce “Autumn Waltz”

Plays in the city garden
Brass band.

(waltz song
M. Blanter and A. Fatyanov
“In the city garden”)

This was the wonderful tradition of Russian musical life: military brass bands played in city gardens and parks in the summer. Their repertoire consisted of works of so-called “garden music”: overtures and suites, fantasies and marches, polkas and waltzes, which were so pleasant to listen to while sitting a little further away on a bench or walking along the alleys of the garden. The so-called “old Russian waltzes” gave a special charm to these concerts, one of the most popular of which is the waltz “On the Hills of Manchuria” by I. Shatrov. This work was written by the military conductor Ilya Alekseevich Shatrov. After graduating from the Warsaw Conservatory, he was appointed bandmaster of the Mokshansky Rifle Regiment. In 1904 - 1905 this regiment was at the fronts Russo-Japanese War and took part in the grandiose battle of Mukden, where the losses of Russian troops were especially significant. It was then that Shatrov wrote his waltz “Moksha Regiment on the Hills of Manchuria,” dedicated to the memory of the fallen. And now we will be transported with you to that garden, to that year and listen to that very waltz.

5. I. Shatrov “On the hills of Manchuria”

This was probably the first “dance epidemic” in the history of world culture that swept the world for such a long time. The waltz swirled first Vienna, and then the whole of Europe. The waltz genre is becoming so popular that it penetrates into different national cultures. This is how the waltz appeared in Tatar music. An example can be “Waltz” by the Tatar composer Khusnulla Valiullin.

6. Kh. Valiullin “Waltz”

in the world symphonic music we can find relatively simple dances, transformed by the hands of master composers into fascinating orchestral pieces. Perhaps the first place among these masters is occupied by the famous Austrian composer, nicknamed at one time “the king of waltzes,” Johann Strauss is the son, so as not to be confused with Strauss, the father, also Johann, also a composer, author of more than 250 waltzes, polkas and other dances.

Father and son divided the 19th century between themselves, the father worked in the first half of the century, the son in the second. Having known not only fame, but also all the vicissitudes of the fate of the musician’s profession, which at that time did not enjoy much respect, Strauss’s father was against music lessons son. But Strauss, the son, went against his father’s will, and even surpassed him in all respects: he lived 30 years longer, was, without a doubt, much more talented and composed twice as many dances - almost 500.

The popularity of Johann Strauss's son's brilliant, sweeping, exciting dances was truly incredible. His waltzes were danced everywhere - in imperial palaces and small taverns, danced in houses, on streets and squares. All of Europe went crazy over Strauss’s “Viennese Waltzes”. It is difficult to name a composer who managed to captivate the aristocracy with his music and at the same time become a favorite composer in the most wide circles ordinary people. When the name Strauss is mentioned, a smile always appears on the face - people expect something bright, cheerful, and exciting.

At the end of our meeting, we will hear “Waltz” by Johann Strauss from the operetta “Die Fledermaus”, captivating with the variety of dance rhythms and the beauty of the melody.

7. J. Strauss “Waltz” from the operetta “Die Fledermaus”

Our tour of the “Waltz Museum” is coming to an end. I would like to add to the above that the waltz genre is not outdated in our time. Every year in Vienna Christmas balls are held, at which the symbol of the holiday is precisely Waltz. Socialites gather there famous people from the world of cinema, theater, and who are ardent fans of this beautiful dance. We hope that you will join them. Thank you for your attention.

Eadweard Muybridge (1893)

Waltz(fr. valse) - the general name for ballroom, social and folk dances in musical size 3/4, performed mainly in a closed position. The most common figure in a waltz is full turn in two measures with three steps each.

The waltz first became popular in Vienna in the 80s years XVIII centuries, spreading to many countries in subsequent years. The waltz, especially with closed positions, became a model for the creation of many others. ballroom dancing. Later, many varieties of the waltz were created. Mostly they danced at balls.

Origin

The waltz owes its birth to many dances different nations Europe. Its roots are in the dance “Matenik”, popular for its time, and its variety “Furiante”, performed at holidays in the Czech village, in the French dance “Volt” (“Lavolta”) and, finally, in the Austrian “Ländler”, the closest to waltz from its predecessors.

It is believed that the predecessor of the waltz is the French medieval dance Vols. It began with something like Poland, but after a few bars the gentleman had to lift his lady, continuing to twist her. Vols danced at the French court until Louis XIII banned it.

Germany and Austria are rightfully considered the birthplace of Waltz.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries there were several various forms waltz, including some in 2/4, 6/8 and 5/4.

Waltz is one of the arts of expressive movements in 3/4 rhythm.

Varieties of waltz

• Fast waltz forms are called Viennese waltz
• International standard waltz - danced only in closed positions
• You can dance in open positions, this is how they danced in Italy in late XVIII century

See also

Write a review about the article "Waltz"

Literature

• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.

Links

Excerpt characterizing Waltz

Pierre started to talk about Karataev (he had already gotten up from the table and was walking around, Natasha was watching him with her eyes) and stopped.
- No, you cannot understand what I learned from this illiterate man - a fool.
“No, no, speak up,” said Natasha. - Where is he?
“He was killed almost in front of me.” - And Pierre began to tell lately their retreats, Karataev’s illness (his voice trembled incessantly) and his death.
Pierre told his adventures as he had never told them to anyone before, as he had never recalled them to himself. He now saw, as it were, a new meaning in everything that he had experienced. Now, when he was telling all this to Natasha, he was experiencing that rare pleasure that women give when listening to a man - not smart women who, while listening, try to either remember what they are told in order to enrich their minds and, on occasion, retell it or adapt what is being told to your own and quickly communicate your clever speeches, developed in your small mental economy; but the pleasure that real women give, gifted with the ability to select and absorb into themselves all the best that exists in the manifestations of a man. Natasha, without knowing it herself, was all attention: she did not miss a word, a hesitation in her voice, a glance, a twitch of a facial muscle, or a gesture from Pierre. On the fly she caught an unspoken word and brought it directly into her open heart, guessing secret meaning all Pierre's spiritual work.
Princess Marya understood the story, sympathized with it, but she now saw something else that absorbed all her attention; she saw the possibility of love and happiness between Natasha and Pierre. And for the first time this thought came to her, filling her soul with joy.
It was three o'clock in the morning. Waiters with sad and stern faces came to change the candles, but no one noticed them.
Pierre finished his story. Natasha, with shining, animated eyes, continued to look persistently and attentively at Pierre, as if wanting to understand something else that he had not expressed, perhaps. Pierre, in bashful and happy embarrassment, occasionally glanced at her and thought of what to say now in order to shift the conversation to another subject. Princess Marya was silent. It didn’t occur to anyone that it was three o’clock in the morning and that it was time to sleep.
“They say: misfortune, suffering,” said Pierre. - Yes, if now, this minute they told me: do you want to remain what you were before captivity, or first go through all this? For God's sake, once again captivity and horse meat. We think how we will be thrown out of our usual path, that everything is lost; and here something new and good is just beginning. As long as there is life, there is happiness. There is a lot, a lot ahead. “I’m telling you this,” he said, turning to Natasha.

General name for ballroom and folk dances musical size 3/4.
Performed primarily in a closed position. The most common figure in the waltz is a full turn in two measures with three steps in each.
The waltz first became popular in the 80s. XVIII century
In subsequent years, having spread to many countries, the waltz, especially with closed positions, became a model for the creation of many other ballroom dances. Later, many varieties of the waltz were created.

Origin
The waltz owes its birth to many dances of different peoples of Europe. Its roots are found in the popular dance of its time "Matenik" and its variation "Furiante", performed at holidays in the Czech village, in the French dance "Volt" ("Lavolta") and, finally, in the Austrian "Ländler", the closest to waltz from its predecessors. In the 19th and early 20th centuries. There were several different forms of the waltz, including some in 2/4, 6/8 and 5/4.

Waltz is one of the arts of expressive movements in a certain rhythm.

In modern ballroom dancing, a fast variation of the waltz is called.
The International Waltz Standard includes only closed figures; this means that the pair never leaves the closed position.
American style Waltz, as opposed to the International Waltz Standard, includes almost complete breaks of the closed position in some figures. For example, the "short side twirl" pattern contains a separate rotation for both partners. Open rotation - other good example open dance figure, in which the driven partner moves to the left and right side leading partner, guided by the left or right hand leading (only one hand leads to choose from), setting the direction of movement. Waltzes are one of the main themes of many American musicals and films, including the Swing Era Waltz, sung by Fred Astaire.
Waltz with cross step - new style in a waltz in which the first step crosses diagonally the main line of movement. This style developed at Stanford University and allows for a wide range of different dance figures.
(in Peru it is also called "Creole Waltz").
The first composer to write La Valse-Curacao was Jan Gerard Palm (1831-1906). Like the Strauss family in Austria, the Palm family composed many popular curacaut waltzes. Widely known composers of waltz-curacauts from the Palm family are: Jan Gerard Palm (1831-1906), Jacobo Palm (1887-1982), Rudolf Palm (1880-1950), John Palm (1885-1925), Albert Palm (1903-1957 ), Edgar Palm (1905-1998) and Robert Rodger (born 1939). In addition to the Palm family, Valls-Curaceau was composed by composers such as Joseph Sickman Corsen, Chris Alder, Jacobo Conrad and Wim Staithes Mahler, who are well known for their works.
Mexican Waltz(vals mexicano) follows the same basic rhythmic pattern as the standard waltz, but the melody reflects a strong Spanish influence. Mexican composer Juventino Rosas wrote the waltz "Sobre las Olas" ("Over the Waves"), well known in the United States as a circus song performed during trapeze shows.
Waltz Cajun(Louisiana Waltz) - a slow circle around the dance floor, characterized by a gentle sway of the hips and a dance step that is very close to a walking step. Performed exclusively in a closed position.
Waltz-tango allows dancers to perform a dance in three steps in each of the four musical measures or without the main steps in a measure to waltz music. It is also possible to change the number of steps in each beat throughout the song.
Venezuelan Waltz
The Western European waltz differs from the standard waltz by 99%. dance movement occurs counterclockwise. The posture of the partners and the position of their arms and legs are quite free and even slightly stooped. Exaggerated gestures, characteristic of some ballroom styles, is missing here. Couples often dance in the Promenade position, depending on local preference. There are two varieties of the Western European waltz: the Spanish waltz and the later (which emerged in the late 1930s - early 1950s) "pursuit waltz". At one time, this waltz style was considered an indicator of bad treatment, since in some figures the man led his partner backwards and forwards.

Sources used
1. dancealltime.ru.
2. wikipedia.org.

A short story about the waltz for children will tell you a lot of interesting things about this famous dance. Also, a message about the waltz can be used to prepare for classes.

Message about the waltz

What is a waltz in music?

Waltz - this is a dance that is performed at weddings, proms, Viennese balls. The classic waltz is characterized by the following features:

• Rhythmic and fast structure. The rhythm of waltz steps goes like this: “One, two, three. One, two, three."
• Partner puts his hand on your partner's waist. The woman puts her hand on her partner's shoulder. Free hands complete the waltz figure.
• Airiness, grace and lightness in every movement.
• Each measure of the waltz includes 3 beats. This is called trilobed musical size, on which dance movements are performed.
• The waltz is performed in a closed position: partners stand facing each other. The woman is standing a little to the right.

Waltz history

The waltz is by no means an ancient form of dance. If compared with the chime or allemande, the waltz is very young: its age is no more than 2 centuries. But the details of the origin of the dance are unknown. One version says that the progenitor of the waltz is the fast-moving German Walzer. According to another version, it originated from the three-beat dance of Austrian and German peasants - Ländler. It was danced in pairs in a circle. It seemed quite simple, but the dance contained elements of the future waltz - moving in a circle, touching the waist with a partner and kneeling.

Over time, the waltz entered aristocratic circles, at social receptions and balls. At first he was not received very warmly. In 1816, the waltz dance was included in the ballroom dancing at court. Confessors and religious leaders considered him shameful and depraved, violating the norms of morality and morality, devoid of chastity. They labeled the waltz as obscene and vulgar and decided that it was not worthy of decent society. Similar attitude to the dance was observed throughout Europe.

However, the waltz managed to survive. It was enthusiastically received by the bourgeoisie, spreading the dance in social dance salons among the townspeople. Perhaps the waltz would have remained “not accepted” in the highest circles if not for the work of composers of the Romantic era (for example, Lanner and Strauss). In the 19th century, ennobled waltz music gave impetus to further development waltz choreography. She acquired lightness, grace and beauty. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the waltz was adopted at court. It was especially popular during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Species waltz

Waltz dance is quite diverse. It has gone through many modifications over its history. Today there are many varieties of this dance. The most common are:

• The Viennese waltz is impetuous, fast, light and graceful.
• The English waltz is restrained, elegant, requiring good technique and discipline. It is characterized by changes of tempo, fermatas and pauses.
• Tango-waltz. Combines elements of waltz and tango. Another name is Argentine Waltz.
• Figured waltz. This dance is included in the program of sports ballroom dancing. Characterized by fulfillment large quantity strict elements.

We hope that the message about the waltz helped you prepare for the lesson. And your short story You can leave your comments about the waltz using the comment form below.

| Slow foxtrot | Quickstep

Waltz, history and character of the Slow Waltz

The waltz owes its birth to many dances of different peoples of Europe. Its roots are found in the popular dance of its time “Matenik” and its variation “Furiante”, performed at holidays in the Czech village, in the French dance “Volt” and, finally, in the Austrian “Lindler”, the closest to the waltz of its predecessors. The waltz was born and flourished at the beginning of the 19th century in Vienna, and then throughout the world. IN different countries this “king” of dances acquired certain national traits. This is how the English waltz, Hungarian waltz, waltz-mazurka, figure waltz, etc. appeared. Perhaps no dance can compete with it in such long-term and constant popularity. As a result of development musical form waltz at the beginning of the twentieth century in the 20s, new dances appeared in England: the Boston waltz and the slow waltz. They became the parents of the modern competitive slow waltz.

Year of the waltz's appearance: 1923-1924

Waltz time signature: 3/4

Waltz tempo: 27-29 beats per minute, slow

The birthplace of the waltz dance: England

Waltz count: "1", "2", "3"

Accents: on the count of "2" the dance couple's eating is emphasized

Waltz character: a slow lyrical dance with a very characteristically expressed and constantly repeating “rolling wave of the surf” creating the impression of flight and weightlessness. The softer nature of the execution of the declines can give him particular attractiveness and expressiveness. Control of a couple's partner is of a magko veiled, hidden nature.

Historical information: Because The tempo of the Viennese Waltz was quite fast, but soon composers began to write music that was much slower. From this music a new style of Waltz developed, called the Boston, with slower turns, and a longer, gliding movement. Around 1874, in England, the very influential "Boston Club" was formed and a new style of dance began to appear, English, later called the Slow Waltz. However, only after 1922 this dance will become as fashionable as Tango. It’s strange, but the fact that couples used to dance in the Boston Waltz is very different from what we perform now. Immediately after the 1st World War, the Waltz changed rapidly. The dance was composed at the beginning of 1919 as an independent dance, but all the principles of movement and especially the figures were used from the slow foxtrot. In 1921 it was decided that the basic movement should be: step, step, extension. When Victor Sylvester won the championship in 1922, then English program the waltz consisted of just a Right Turn, a Left Turn and a Change of Direction. In 1926/1927 the Waltz was significantly improved. The basic movement has been changed to: step, side step, extension. As a result, there are more opportunities for developing figures. They were standardized by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD). We still dance many of these figures.