Composer

:

Morton Gould

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1948

Average_duration

:

25:25

Movement_count

:

16

Movement ....

Fall River Legend is a ballet composed by Morton Gould in 1947. The plot of the ballet is based on the infamous Lizzie Borden case, which took place in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892. The ballet tells the story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe. The ballet is divided into four movements. The first movement, titled "Prologue," sets the scene and introduces the characters. The second movement, titled "Molto Adagio," depicts the murder of Lizzie's father and stepmother. The third movement, titled "Scherzo," shows the trial and acquittal of Lizzie. The final movement, titled "Epilogue," shows Lizzie's descent into madness. The ballet premiered on May 22, 1948, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. It was choreographed by Agnes de Mille, who also danced the role of Lizzie Borden. The ballet was a critical and commercial success, and it helped establish de Mille as one of the leading choreographers of her time. One of the characteristics of Fall River Legend is its use of American folk music. Gould incorporated traditional New England folk songs into the score, which gives the ballet a distinctly American flavor. Another characteristic of the ballet is its use of narrative storytelling. Unlike many ballets, which rely on abstract movement to convey emotion and meaning, Fall River Legend tells a specific story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Overall, Fall River Legend is a powerful and haunting ballet that explores themes of violence, madness, and justice. Its combination of traditional folk music and narrative storytelling make it a unique and memorable work of art.

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