Classical Music/Identifying music

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Expert: - 3/2/2011


Question
Hello. I have 3 pieces of music I need identified. They are at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcCmtv9jOr4&feature=related  First one starts at 3:22, second at 4:00, and third at 4:42. Can you help? Thank you. Sarah

Answer
I don't know any of them, but I have submitted the link (and time marks) to a friend who is a ballet accompanist.  I hope she recognizes at least one. Will write a "revised answer" to let you know what she has to say.  
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Update:  Here's what my accompanist friend has to say:

The 3 pieces are music that are played for exercises known as "Petite Allegro" in ballet.  They are exercises done in the "center," i.e. after all the slower warm ups at the barre.  Petite Allegro are usually in 2/4 and have an alternating bass with upbeats and quick melodies.  These exercises are different small jumps like jete, brise, glissade, changement, pas de cheval, etc. (big jumps are called "Grand Allegro" and have heavy downbeats and are usually waltzes).

Music used for "class" are usually pieces from standard piano repertoire, arrangements of famous pieces, tunes from Broadway (usually more prevalent in the US than in some other countries), and specially originally-composed pieces for these exercises.  Melodies from famous ballets are usually strongly discouraged since most professional dancers are tired of hearing them.  Besides, these famous melodies are choreographed to specific steps, and their phrasings do not fit well into the regular repetitive exercises in classes unless they are heavily edited.

My guess is that all the pieces that were used for that class are composed specially for ballet class.  They sound a lot like the Russian and British music I am familiar with that is used specifically for ballet classes.  

It is also possible that the pianist in the clip composed these herself.  Many good accompanists compose their own music for exercises, but I don't.  I would say I am 90% sure that these pieces are not from any well-known ballet.....but I may be wrong.  Sorry - I don't have titles or composers for these pieces.

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There you go!  You might try a dance Expert here....
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Marbeth

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I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.

>>*****IMPORTANT NOTE*****<<: I do not answer questions marked "private." I don't want to type the same thing to someone else later if I typed it to you already! If you mark your request "private," I will send it back to you requesting you to remove the "private" flag. Thanks for your understanding. Remember, I'm a volunteer.

My answers are not toss-offs. If I don't know the answer, I will do my best to find it.

I have many requests to identify a piece of music. If I can't identify it, I will tell you (1) what composer I think it is; (2) what composer or composers I think it is not; (3) what style period, genre, etc. I think it is or is not. And give you any other help I can to help you find the answer.

Please find a clear clip. In the interest of good computer hygiene, I will not download a clip. Nor will I go to a site where I must "register" in order to hear the clip. Please mount the clip on a public site for which you can give me a direct URL. Thanks for your understanding in this. Remember, I'm a volunteer!

Students, I do NOT do homework questions. The purpose of answering questions on assignments is not only to learn the information, but to LEARN HOW TO FIND IT. Re-read chapter. Look in the index. Look in the references given at the end of the chapter or elsewhere in the book. You also probably can find the answer using Google. Don't be lazy. I wouldn't be doing you any favors by doing your homework for you! I already know the answer. You don't. You need to find it. MORE IMPORTANTLY, you need to learn HOW to find it. That's the whole purpose of education, after all!

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