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Waltz from Masquerade Suite

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description Waltz from Masquerade Suite Overview

The "Waltz" from the *Masquerade Suite* is an orchestral composition by the Armenian Soviet composer Aram Khachaturian. It was originally written in 1941 as incidental music for a production of Mikhail Lermontov's 1835 play *Masquerade*, which critiques 19th-century Russian aristocratic society. Khachaturian later compiled the suite, and the waltz became the most recognizable movement due to its broad, sweeping strings and robust brass. It is frequently programmed by symphony orchestras alongside other standard 20th-century Russian repertoire.

help Waltz from Masquerade Suite FAQ

Who composed the 'Waltz' from the Masquerade Suite?

The 'Waltz' was composed by the Armenian Soviet composer Aram Khachaturian. It was originally written in 1941 as incidental music for a theatrical production.

What play inspired Khachaturian's Masquerade Suite?

Khachaturian originally composed the music for a stage production of Mikhail Lermontov's 1835 play 'Masquerade.' The play is a bitter critique of 19th-century Russian aristocratic society.

What instruments feature prominently in the Masquerade Waltz?

The orchestration features sweeping, romantic melodies led heavily by the string section, contrasted with bursts from the woodwinds. Khachaturian also utilizes his signature energetic percussion to drive the traditional Viennese waltz rhythm.

Is the Masquerade Waltz a traditional Viennese waltz?

While it maintains the lilting 3/4 time signature of a traditional Viennese waltz, Khachaturian infuses the piece with rich, dark harmonic undertones. This gives the waltz a sense of dramatic melancholy that distinguishes it from lighter waltzes by composers like Johann Strauss II.

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