The Nutcracker Act II – The Finale

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The Finale

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soaring crescendos

all the dancers on the stage

Clara bids farewell

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me – Act I – center stage – before the tree starts to grow

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The photo above was taken from a special souvenir photo book which was created for the 1981 Nutcracker Season.  After spending my Sunday afternoon digging through boxes, I found this gem amongst many, many other treasures.  This photo was taken in 1979.

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I hope you have enjoyed my series of pieces inspired by The Nutcracker Ballet.  As a child, the holidays were The Nutcracker. As an adult, they are very special memories – ones which I will never, ever forget.  Just ask my boys….they hear the same stories year after year, after year, after year…..and it looks like y’all will be suffering the same fate!

The Nutcracker Act II – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

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celesta keys strike

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dainty pink pointes enamor

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a charming classic

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The celesta, an instrument invented in 1886, gets its name for its “celestial,” tinkling sound.  It provides the distinctive music that accompanies the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard.  Tchaikovsky is considered to be the first major composer to utilize the celesta in a musical composition – his Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is the most well-known. (For the music buffs in the audience, Tchaikovsky first used the instrument in a symphonic poem – The Voyevoda in 1891 – The Nutcracker was written in 1892.)

The Nutcracker Act II Pas De Deux

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The Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier

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one

spotlight

on stage right.

they stand prepared.

he extends his arm –

she gently takes his hand

stepping onto perfect pointes.

gracefully and delicately

a majestic pas de deux unfolds…

dreams of sugar plums become her desire…..

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my first year as Clara – December 1978

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In 1974, the Cincinnati Ballet Company premiered The Nutcracker.  For two years, I sat in the audience – mesmerized.  In Summer of 1976, I changed ballet schools and that December I was cast as a party girl and bunny.  Many little girls and boys see more than just a ballet while sitting in the audience of a production of The Nutcracker – they discover their heart’s true desire.

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On a separate note, this piece of music is my favorite piece of Tchaikovsky music – of any music, really.  Each time I hear it, I cry.  Incidentally, twenty years later my son Peyton would be born to this particular piece.  (I made two ‘labor tapes’ and this was on cassette number 2).  The words written above are based on the original Marius Petipa choreography, with the exception of the last line…of course.

The Nutcracker Act II – Arabian Dance

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The Arabian Dance

‘Coffee’

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quietly subdued

an exotic seduction

she moves like fluid

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where some of my nuts reside….

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I decided to cut and paste this variation – the original lacked a photo, which was due to my lack of poor planning.  Last year when I started this project it was supposed to be one post, then it became an entire series.

The photo above is in response to a question asked – where do I keep all of my Nutcrackers?  What you see is a shelf, in a hutch, located in my living room.  I have lots of Nutcracker items – lots – and these are my most valuable.  The one in the very center, on the top shelf – is priceless.  In due time, you will discover why…

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the overture

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his score calls my name

i am summoned to the stage

home – where i belong

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photo taken for The Cincinnati Enquirer in December 1998 – studio rehearsal for The Nutcracker – the battle scene

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If – a story

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IF I could return to this world

long after I have gone,

I would return as a bird ~

as a majestic, white swan.

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I would settle on a lake,

way beyond the beaten path ~

far away from the chaos

and

the noise of life’s wrath.

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I would spend my days gracefully,

gliding along ~~~

to the rhythm of nature’s symphonies

occasionally honking a song.

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I may find another ~

a soul mate, a partner

to create beautiful choreography ~

a pas de deux on the water

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as our ballet transitions

from Act I to Act II,

little grey cygnets will be born,

maybe one,

possibly a few.

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the little one’s will follow ~ ~ ~

single file one-by-one ~ ~ ~

our corps de ballet will be complete ~ ~ ~

waltzing around the lake

under the sun.

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there will come a day

when their plumes of white will emerge,

our cast of soloists will take flight

making their way into the world

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meanwhile,

my partner and I will stay quietly behind ~

gracefully

gliding side~by~side

in

our

ballet of life.

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tranquillity

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.

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i wish to drown myself

in the immeasurable beauty

and

passion of music

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his music

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where i can confront my spiritual collapse,

spread my wings

and

fly away

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forever

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~ none but the lonely heart ~

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a lonely heart

can feel the arms of sadness

and

tears of pain

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a lonely heart

can feel the breath of fear

and

the kiss of death

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a lonely heart

can choose

to feel nothing

or

a lonely heart

can to choose to feel something…

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I ask the question ~ why ~

why

cannot

my lonely heart

choose to feel

with

a promise of salvation?

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inspired by Tchaikovsky and a lonely heart

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Six Romances Op. 6  6th Movement

‘None But The Lonely Heart”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PtIHBCuR-Q

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