The Grossvater Tanz (grandfather's Dance)

Introduction

The Grossvater Tanz (Grandfather's Dance) is a German dance tune from the 17th century. It is generally considered a traditional folk tune. Its real author has been claimed to be Carl Gottlieb Hering (1766–1853). For many years, it was regularly played and danced at the end of wedding celebrations, and became known as the Kehraus (sweep-out).Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky also quotes the tune in act 1 of his ballet The Nutcracker (1892). It appears at the end of the Christmas party. Tchaikovsky was a great admirer of Schumann's music, but it is not clear whether this was meant as some sort of tribute to Schumann or simply as an appropriate tune to use in music depicting the winding up of a happy family event.

Storyline and the piece

It is a 3 time dance music. The arrival of the grandfather is the sudden entry of brass and percussion.

(0”00-1”12)Children are delighted with their gifts. It is a waltz that implies. The 3 time are marked by pizzacati cellos. This part ends with a crescendo

(1”12-1”40) The piece is then built on a measure to 2 times, each time is marked by the cellos. The tempo is faster. It shows that Fritz Nutcracker launches into the air and breaks it. We hear the rattle which intervenes (First time 1 to 2 beats, and then it is on all the time.)

(3”06-4”18) Clara rocks Nutcracker. The lullaby is played, and it is interrupted by the brass: Fritz and his friends disturb this very sweet moment by some unwanted noises.

(4”30-5”31)Clara's father offers to invite the grandfather to dance waltz.

(4”49)Here, almost all instruments play the same rhythm.

Mood of the piece

The piece has a slow introductory movement, proceeding to the lively dance