BGSO
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Programme notes: BGSO at the Ballroom
Libertango
Astor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla revolutionised the traditional tango, infusing it with influences from jazz and classical music. The result? Some of the sexiest tangos you’ll ever hear. Libertango was composed by Piazzolla in 1974, and it’s an iconic representation of his unique style. The driving, syncopated (off-beat) bass line and lower rhythms are overlaid by a sinuous melody. The piece’s title is a pun on the word ‘Libertad’, meaning ‘liberty’ – and you can imagine the liberty or freedom you might feel dancing to this piece.
"Waltz No. 2" from Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1
Dimitri Shostakovich
You’ll hear an instrument taking centre-stage that you don’t often hear in orchestral music – the saxophone. This programme note writer absolutely loves a minor key waltz, and this one is sheer perfection, with the haunting saxophone melody turning the waltz into a swirling, mysterious number. The piece was famously used in Kubrick’s film ‘Eyes Wide Shut’.
Duke Ellington! (A medley for orchestra)
arr. Calvin Custer
This medley packs in some of Duke Ellington’s most classic songs. It opens with ‘Don’t get around much anymore’, followed by ‘Do nothin’ till you hear from me’ and ‘Sophisticated lady’. The medley turns up the tempo, ending with ‘It don’t mean a thing (if it ain’t got that swing)’. These numbers evoke all sorts of ballroom dances – foxtrots, quicksteps, and more.
España
Emmanuel Chabrier
A French composer who was so inspired by Spain that he had to have a go at writing Spanish music (see also: Bizet), Chabrier composed this piece in 1883 after spending a few months touring Spain. During his trip, he was really interested in Spanish dance forms, often writing musical examples in his letters to friends (what a great pen-pal). In parts of this piece, you can hear the orchestra imitating a strummed flamenco guitar; towards the end, the strings play with the wood of their bows, getting close to the sound of flamenco clapping. The piece went viral, or the 19th century equivalent thereof, with all sorts of versions published for piano, piano duet, and singers, so that amateur musicians could enjoy it in their homes.
Radetzky March
Johann Strauss
​An upbeat march that you might be most familiar with from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s Concerts, where it’s always played as an encore. It’s said that when the march was first played to Austrian military officers, they clapped and stamped their feet along with the chorus. This has made it traditional for audiences to clap along – just don’t get caught about by the abrupt dynamic changes!
Tequila
Chuck Rio, arr. Jack Lovell-Huckle
Based on a Cuban mambo song, ‘Tequila’ was originally a B-side release for The Champs. It hit number 1 on the Billboard pop chart in 1958 and since then has become ingrained in pop culture. Cheers!
Ritual Fire Dance
Manuel de Falla
While this piece has dance in the name, we’re not sure it’ll be featured on Strictly any time soon. It’s taken from a ballet called El amor brujo (‘The bewitched love’) and is danced around a fire at midnight to banish the ghost of the main character’s dead husband. More Spanish guitar impressions come from the string section; the brass section are in charge of lighting the fire.
"Mambo" from West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein
The mambo is a Cuban dance that became very popular in 1940s and 1950s New York. No surprise, then, that it features in Bernstein’s 1957 musical about rival New York and Puerto Rican gangs. This is a pretty aggressive mambo, though: it’s used as music for a dance battle between the two gangs (which is of course the most traditional way that gangs settle their differences). You can hear the tension in the music, with the clashing harmonies and competing rhythms. It’s a complete thrill to play; make sure you keep an eye out for the percussionists, who have a lot to do!
Interval
Come and enjoy some hot drinks and mince pies!
“Les Toréadors” from Carmen Suite No. 1 Georges Bizet
Bizet’s 1875 opera Carmen is set in Seville, and the rhythms and sounds of Spanish music permeate his music. Bullfighters, or toreadors, are central to the opera’s plot (as is sex and murder, in typical opera style). This excerpt is drawn from the part of the opera showing the triumphant march of the bullfighters into the ring: perfect to dance a paso doble to. Listen out for the cymbals and the triangle showing the sunlight sparkling on the matadors’ jackets.
Sleigh Ride
Leroy Anderson
We know it’s not a Christmas concert, but we couldn’t resist adding in a bit of festive cheer. Highlights of this piece include whip cracks from the percussionists and Rosie’s finest neighing horse impression at the end. We look forward to welcoming our guest conductor – who will it be?!
Por una cabeza
Carlos Gardel, arr. P. Martin
This tango was written in 1935. The title means ‘By a head’, referring to a horse narrowly winning (or losing) a race. An odd topic, for a romantic-sounding tango – but the original lyrics compare losing a bet on a horse race to losing with women.
Latin-Americana
arr. Frank Naylor
​This is a medley of “famous melodies and rhythms”, as the sheet music says. We guarantee you’ll recognise these tunes, which include a tango, a cha-cha, a samba, and a baion, which is a slow samba from Brazil. Some members of the orchestra felt this medley was too cheesy to include in the concert; fortunately, they were out-voted.
The Entertainer
Scott Joplin arr. Alan Frazer
A cheeky little Charleston for you with this classic tune from the King of Ragtime. Actually, Charlestons are typically a bit faster than this; for this earlier style of ragtime music, people danced the cakewalk, two-step, or even the one-step. The one-step was basically just a relaxed walk in time to the music, so easy anyone could do it (though maybe still a touch too tricky for our violas).
The Blue Danube
Johann Strauss Jr.
Think of the most classic waltz you can imagine. Congratulations! You’re (probably) thinking of The Blue Danube. The piece is actually five different waltzes squished together, so listen out for the different tunes. Strauss was Austrian, so this is a great example of a Viennese waltz, which is a bit faster than the slow waltz and involves the dancers turning constantly in circles. Don’t get dizzy.
I Will Survive
Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Bringing the disco dancing to the ballroom, ‘I Will Survive’ was of course iconically sung by Gloria Gaynor, and was released in 1978. Over the years, it’s become a gay anthem, with Pitchfork listing it in their ‘50 songs that define the last 50 years of LGBTQ+ pride’ in 2018. Big shout-out to our trumpeter, Joe Martin, who will be showing off his great singing skills in this number!
Aladdin Suite for Orchestra
Alan Menken
​What’s an Aladdin medley doing in a concert of ballroom music? Well, if you don’t tap your toes along to these songs, I have questions for you. The wailing jazz trumpets of ‘Never had a friend like me’ lend themselves to a quickstep… or a Charleston… or a freestyle… while the dreamy ‘A whole new world’ is just right for a romantic foxtrot… or an American Smooth… and the march of ‘Prince Ali’ is an absolutely showstopping finale.