Learn about one of the most popular genres of music of all times and dance along to the ‘Night Waltz’ from Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.
About the waltz
The waltz is both a dance and a musical form. It was very popular in the Romantic Era, especially in Vienna, one of Europe’s leading musical centres in the 18th and 19th Century.
Here are some more interesting facts about the waltz:
- The waltz originated from peasant dances and evolved over several centuries
- Modern waltz was born in the suburbs of Vienna in Austria and was created for the court to dance to in the late 18th century
- The time signature of a waltz is ¾, which means there are 3 beats in each bar. It goes like this: MM-Bap-Bap or 1-2-3 with an accent on the first beat
- Waltzes range in tempo from moderate to quite fast and lively
Activity 1: Count the Beats
Here is a short extract from Opera North’s Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella (you only need to watch the dance scene). Can you count the beats of the waltz along with Cinderella’s fairy godmother? Why not try to join in with the dance too?
Listen to famous waltzes from the 19th century
The Strauss family were perhaps the most famous of all waltz composers and one of the most famous waltzes of all time is The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss. The tune has been used in many films and TV programmes such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Sherlock, Titanic and even The Simpsons! In Austria, it is played every year on New Year’s Day on TV and radio across the country.
Have a listen and see if you can hear the MM-Bap-Bap rhythm throughout. The first beat is strong, while beats 2 and 3 are lighter.
Another famous waltz is from the ballet Sleeping Beauty written by a Russian composer called Tchaikovsky. If you like Disney films, you will almost definitely know this melody as ‘Once upon a Dream’.
Can you sing along?
Some of the best waltzes written for the piano were composed by Chopin. Here is an example of of them, it’s much faster than the others!
See if you can still hear the MM-Bap-Bap rhythm at that speed.
Modern waltzes used in films
Waltzes are still popular today and have been used in many films and musicals. Here are two recent examples which you might have seen without realising they were waltzes…
Activity 2: Learn to waltz on 'A Little Night Music'
Now it’s your turn to have a go at dancing the waltz. First, watch this tutorial to learn the basic steps…
Once you feel confident with the steps, see if you can dance a little faster using the same moves along to ‘The Night Waltz’ from Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Make sure you find the beat and count 1 2 3 along with the music before you start dancing. This will help. Good luck!
We would love to see how you get on with your waltz. If you want, you can share your videos on Twitter using #ONLittleSchool
See A Little Night Music
If you enjoyed Sondheim’s music and would like to hear more, Opera North’s production of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music returns to Leeds Playhouse between 1 – 16 July.
