Composer

:

Erik Satie

Genre

:

Ballet

Style

:

Ballet

Compose Date

:

1916 - 1917

Average_duration

:

14:25

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

'Parade' is a ballet composed by Erik Satie in 1916. The plot of the ballet revolves around a group of performers who are trying to put on a show. The performers include a manager, a horse, a Chinese conjurer, and a pair of acrobats. The show is a mix of circus acts, music, and dance. The ballet was composed during World War I and premiered on May 18, 1917, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The choreography was done by Jean Cocteau, and the sets and costumes were designed by Pablo Picasso. The ballet was a collaboration between Satie, Cocteau, and Picasso, and it was intended to be a satirical commentary on the state of the arts in Paris at the time. The music of 'Parade' is characterized by Satie's use of unconventional instruments, such as a typewriter, a siren, and a lottery wheel. The music is also notable for its use of repetitive motifs and rhythms, which create a sense of mechanical repetition. The ballet is divided into four movements, each of which corresponds to a different scene in the show. The first movement, titled "Chorale," features a group of performers singing a hymn-like melody. The second movement, "Prelude to the Circus," introduces the various performers and their acts. The third movement, "The Chinese Conjurer," features a solo dance by the conjurer, accompanied by a repetitive melody played on a xylophone. The final movement, "The Prestidigitator," features a solo dance by the manager, who performs a series of acrobatic feats. Overall, 'Parade' is a groundbreaking work that challenged traditional notions of ballet and music. Its use of unconventional instruments and repetitive motifs paved the way for later avant-garde composers such as John Cage and Steve Reich. The collaboration between Satie, Cocteau, and Picasso also helped to blur the boundaries between different art forms, and it remains a landmark work in the history of modern art.

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