Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891 – 1953) was a
Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who later
worked in the Soviet Union. As the creator of
acknowledged masterpieces across numerous music genres,
he is regarded as one of the major composers of the
20th century. His works include such widely heard
pieces as the March from The Love for Three Oranges,
the suite Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and
Juliet—from which "Dance of the Knights" is
taken—and Peter and the Wolf. Of the establi...(+)
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (1891 – 1953) was a
Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who later
worked in the Soviet Union. As the creator of
acknowledged masterpieces across numerous music genres,
he is regarded as one of the major composers of the
20th century. His works include such widely heard
pieces as the March from The Love for Three Oranges,
the suite Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and
Juliet—from which "Dance of the Knights" is
taken—and Peter and the Wolf. Of the established
forms and genres in which he worked, he
created—excluding juvenilia—seven completed operas,
seven symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos,
two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a
symphony-concerto for cello and orchestra, and nine
completed piano sonatas.
"Romeo and Juliet", Op. 64, is a ballet by Sergei
Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and
Juliet. First composed in 1935, it was substantially
revised for its Soviet premiere in early 1940.
Prokofiev made from the ballet three orchestral suites
and a suite for solo piano. Based on a synopsis created
by Adrian Piotrovsky (who first suggested the subject
to Prokofiev) and Sergey Radlov, the ballet was
composed by Prokofiev in September 1935 to their
scenario which followed the precepts of "drambalet"
(dramatised ballet, officially promoted at the Kirov
Ballet to replace works based primarily on
choreographic display and innovation). Following
Radlov's acrimonious resignation from the Kirov in June
1934, a new agreement was signed with the Bolshoi
Theatre in Moscow on the understanding that Piotrovsky
would remain involved.
"Dance of the Knights," also known as "Montagues and
Capulets," is a score from Sergey Prokofiev's ballet
"Romeo and Juliet." With its strong horns, stirring
bass, and strings, this composition is one of the most
popular works by the 20th-century Russian composer.
"Romeo and Juliet" consists of three orchestral suites.
"Dance of the Knights" is one of two movements from
"Montagues and Capulets," which begins the second
suite. It is meant to accompany the fateful encounter
between the two warring clans of Shakespeare's romantic
drama, then follow the action to the Capulets'
masquerade ball, where Juliet encounters Romeo. In the
decades since its premiere, "Dance of the Knights" has
become an iconic work in its own right. Selections have
been excerpted for film and television, sampled by
musicians like Tribe Called Quest and Sia, and used for
the video game "Civilization V."
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet_(Prokof
iev)).
Although originally composed for Large Orchestra, I
created this Arrangement of "Dance of the Knights" from
"Romeo & Juliet" (Montagues and Capulets Op. 64 Act 1
Scene 2 No. 13) for Winds (Flute, Oboe, English Horn,
French Horn, Bass Clarinet & Bassoon) & Strings (2
Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass).
