““Danse Danse Macabre “Macabre “

or or ““Dance of Dance of

Death”Death” Created by Kim Maloney

‘Danse Macabre’ was composed

by Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) is one of France’s greatest composers. His aunt began teaching him piano lessons when he was only two years old. By the age of three he had written his first piece for piano!

‘Danse Macabre’ is a Symphonic Poem, meaning

it uses music instead of words to tell a story.

‘Danse Macabre’ is a Symphonic Poem, meaning

it uses music instead of words to tell a story.

‘Danse Macabre’ is based on the following peom

‘Danse Macabre’ is based on the following peom

Zig-a-zig-a-zig – it’s the rhythm of death!His heels tap the tomb-stones as he tunes his violin.Death at midnight, playing a dance tune –Zig-a-zig-a-zig on his violin.The winter wind whistles and the night is dark;The winter wind whistles and the lime trees moan.Weird, white skeletons streak across the shadows;Running and leaping, wrapped in their shrouds.Zig-a-zig-a-zig – the dance grows even wilder:You can hear the eerie clatter of the dancers bones…But wait! Suddenly, they all stop dancing!They scatter…they vanish – for the cock has crowed!

Zig-a-zig-a-zig – it’s the rhythm of death!His heels tap the tomb-stones as he tunes his violin.Death at midnight, playing a dance tune –Zig-a-zig-a-zig on his violin.The winter wind whistles and the night is dark;The winter wind whistles and the lime trees moan.Weird, white skeletons streak across the shadows;Running and leaping, wrapped in their shrouds.Zig-a-zig-a-zig – the dance grows even wilder:You can hear the eerie clatter of the dancers bones…But wait! Suddenly, they all stop dancing!They scatter…they vanish – for the cock has crowed!

‘‘Danse Macabre’ Danse Macabre’ is a spooky piece is a spooky piece that tells the that tells the story of how the story of how the skeletons rise skeletons rise from their graves from their graves on Halloween on Halloween night.night.They dance all They dance all night until dawn; night until dawn; when they must when they must return to their return to their graves. graves. Let’s begin………………Let’s begin………………

Come out and dance!

It midnight!

The clock strikes The clock strikes 12!12!

Listen to the harp and count the chimes

“Death” tiptoes into the cemetery (hear the plucked notes from the cellos and double basses)

Count the footsteps!

Death begins tuning the violin.

The Dance Begins……• A solo flute introduces The

Dance Theme – Melody A. • The violins then repeat it.• It has a three beat pattern… This means it’s a waltz!• The notes are played staccato;

short and jumpy.

The Dance MelodyMelody A

The Dance continues with Melody B

Melody A and Melody B are heard throughout the

piece as the skeletons dance! The two melodies are passed between the

solo violin and the whole orchestra.

Melody A and Melody B are heard throughout the

piece as the skeletons dance! The two melodies are passed between the

solo violin and the whole orchestra.

Then we hear the xylophone joining with the violins for melody A

Then we hear the xylophone joining with the violins for melody A

Melody B enters again… and again… and again… in the lower strings and the woodwinds. This is

called a canon. It is like a round!

More and more skeletons join in the dance!

A new/different theme enters, played by the woodwinds

A new/different theme enters, played by the woodwinds

Listen – Listen – can you can you hear: hear: The wind The wind in the in the trees? trees? Death Death retuning retuning the the violin?violin?The The skeletons skeletons LaughingLaughing??

Now things are starting to get frantic! The skeletons are running out of time. Morning will arrive soon!

Melody A and B are playing at the SAME time! The dance is getting

faster and louder!

Melody A and B are playing at the SAME time! The dance is getting

faster and louder!

The dancing suddenly stops – it’s morning! The cock crows to announce the dawning day.

Death plays the violin sadly for the last time this year… and the skeletons race back to their graves -until next year!

Some people say that the final two notes are the last two coffin lids closing shut - what do you think?