Trepak (The Nutcracker)
Trepak (Russian: Трепак) (Ukrainian: Трoпак, Трiпак) refers to one of the most distinguished and celebrated dances in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. One of several consecutive ethnic dances in the ballet, it is based on the Ukrainian dance, Tropak.
Background and origin
Musical origins
The Tropak (Ukrainian: Трoпак) is a Ukrainian folk dance from the Slobozhan region of Ukraine (around the city of Kharkiv) settled primarilly by descendants of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. The dance is a brisk allegro in 2/4 time in a major key. Accompaniment is usually on two alternating chords; dominant and tonic. The tropak differs from the Hopak in chordal use and also in that the tempo gradually speeds up throughout the dance.
The Tropak was one of the traditional instrumental dances played by blind itinerant musicians called kobzars on their banduras and kobzas. It was also one of the dances often included in the repertoire of village violinists in Eastern Ukraine.
The tropak went out of fashion in the 1930's during the major transformations in Ukrainian village society and culture that happened in Soviet Ukraine at that time.
In dance
The Tropak shares many musical and choreographic characteristics with the Hopak. Both developed as Kozak social dances, performed at celebratory occasions. Traditional Tropak choreography did not survive except a simple walk with a syncopated stamp, often done to a quick duple meter rhythm.
The Nutcracker
As one of several consecutive ethnic dances in Tchaikovsky's ballet, The Nutcracker, the Trepak also goes under the name "Russian Dance" (the other ethnic dances of the ballet have dual names as well, e.g. "Tea" is also "Chinese Dance"). The Trepak is arguably the most popular dance of the ballet (although a case could be made for both the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers). It is an excellent example of the composer's work, flush with his common use of Russian and Ukrainian folk melodies.
Tchaikovsky's Trepak is written in AABA form. It is played in a presto tempo. It has a time signature of 2/4 and is in the key of G Major.
In popular culture
In the Disney film Fantasia, flowers take the place of the Cossack dancers, thistles resembling men in fur hats and roses as women with bonnets.
References
- Template:Uk icon Humeniuk, Andriy (1962). Ukrainian Folk Dances (Українські Hароднi Танцi), Academy of Sciences Ukrainian of the SSR.
- Template:Uk icon Humeniuk, Andriy (1963). Folk Choreographic Art of Ukraine (Hароднe Xореографiчнe Mиcтeцтвo України), Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR.