“Danse
Macabre “
or
“Dance of Death”
Created by
Kim Maloney
‘Danse Macabre’
was composed
by
Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) is
one of France’s greatest
composers. His aunt began
teaching him piano lessons when
he was only two years old. By the
age of three he had written his
first piece for piano!
‘Danse Macabre’ is a Symphonic
Poem, meaning it uses music instead
of words to tell a story.
‘Danse Macabre’ is based on the
following peom
Zig-a-zig-a-zig – it’s the rhythm of death!
His heels tap the tomb-stones as he tunes his violin.
Death at midnight, playing a dance tune –
Zig-a-zig-a-zig on his violin.
The winter wind whistles and the night is dark;
The winter wind whistles and the lime trees moan.
Weird, white skeletons streak across the shadows;
Running and leaping, wrapped in their shrouds.
Zig-a-zig-a-zig – the dance grows even wilder:
You can hear the eerie clatter of the dancers bones…
But wait! Suddenly, they all stop dancing!
They scatter…they vanish – for the cock has crowed!
‘Danse
Macabre’
is a spooky piece
that tells the
story of how the
skeletons rise
from their graves
on Halloween
night.
They dance all
night until dawn;
when they must
return to their
graves.
Let’s begin………………
It midnight!
The clock strikes 12!
Listen to the harp and
count the chimes
Come out and
dance!
“Death” tiptoes into
the cemetery (hear the
plucked notes from the
cellos and double
basses)
Count the footsteps!
Death begins tuning the
violin.
The Dance Begins……
• A solo flute introduces The Dance
Theme – Melody A.
• The violins then repeat it.
• It has a three beat pattern…
This means it’s a waltz!
• The notes are played staccato; short
and jumpy.
The Dance Melody
Melody A
The Dance continues with
Melody B
Melody A and Melody B are
heard throughout the piece as
the skeletons dance! The two
melodies are passed between
the solo violin and the whole
orchestra.
Then we hear the xylophone
joining with the violins for
melody A
Melody B enters again… and
again… and again… in the
lower strings and the
woodwinds. This is called a
canon. It is like a round!
More and more skeletons join
in the dance!
A new/different theme enters,
played by the woodwinds
Listen – can you
hear:
The wind in the
trees?
Death retuning the
violin?
The skeletons
Laughing?
Now things are starting to get frantic!
The skeletons are running out of
time. Morning will arrive soon!
Melody A and B are playing at the
SAME time! The dance is getting
faster and louder!
The dancing suddenly stops
– it’s morning! The cock
crows to announce the
dawning day.
Death plays the violin
sadly for the last time this
year… and the skeletons
race back to their graves until next year!
Some people say that
the final two notes
are the last two
coffin lids closing
shut - what do you
think?