Fairytales and music

[Cato]

I've always wondered why Nielsen never did anything with Hans Christian Andersen. Two Danish national treasures seems a natural combination. Actually, I've never wondered about it. It struck me as odd just now.

Up in Norway there is Peer Gynt by Grieg.

The Incredible Flutist by Walter Piston might count as a fairy tale work!   

[listener]

Glière's Symphony no.3 "Ilya Murometz" describes the demise of the bogatyrs (old Russian heroes), with themes for Ilya, Solovei the  brigand who lures victims to the forest by whistling like a nightingale, Prince Vladimir, wandering pilgrims and other assorted characters and concludes with his "stoning" (read: "petrification").   The up-tempo performances fit the narrative best.

[Florestan]

Spelunking once again... 

(If you're interested in fairy tales, there's a new series of books written by contemporary authors that aims to restore all the original darkness and sensuality that were lost when the Grimms, Charles Perreault and others edited them for children.

No kidding? So Puss in Boots was originally Pussy'n' Hoots??  And The Sleeping Beauty was originally Sleeping With The Beauty? And The Nut-cracker was originally The Butt- cracker? 

[Mandryka]

In Tchaikovsky alone, there are Sugar Plum Fairy, Lilac Fairy, Sleeping Beauty etc., Dvorak had Rusalka and Prokofiev his Cinderella. I wonder if there are more classical pieces that were inspired by fairytales.

Siegfried.

[nick.pollard@outlook.com]

What about the four symphonic poems by Dvorak? The Water Goblin, The Noon Witch, The Golden Spinning Wheel and The Wild Dove. All fantastic pieces written towards the end of his life.