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{{about|the musical piece|the aeronautical phenomenon in high-speed aircraft|Sabre dance (aviation)}}
{{about|the musical piece|the aeronautical phenomenon in high-speed aircraft|Sabre dance (aviation)}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2008}}
[[File:Khachaturian11111.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Aram Khachaturian]]]]
[[File:Khachaturian11111.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Aram Khachaturian]]]]


"'''The Sabre Dance'''" ({{lang-hy|Սուսերով Պար}}) is a [[Movement (music)|movement]] in the final act of the [[ballet]] ''[[Gayane (ballet)|Gayane]]'', written by Armenian composer [[Aram Khachaturian]] and completed in 1942. It evokes a whirling [[war dance]] in an Armenian dance, where the dancers display their skill with [[sabre]]s. Its middle section incorporates an Armenian folk song from [[Gyumri]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music|first=Don Michael|last= Randel|publisher= Harvard University Press|year= 1996|isbn=0674372999}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Americana Song Reader|first= William Emmett|last= Studwell|publisher= Haworth Press|year= 1997|isbn=0789001500}}</ref> Due to its exceptionally exciting rhythm, the "Sabre Dance" established a place for itself in common concert practice, leading also to various adaptations in popular music. Its recognizable [[ostinato]] and popular melodies have made it a popular concert band piece.
"'''The Sabre Dance'''" ({{lang-hy|Սուսերով Պար}}) is a [[Movement (music)|movement]] in the final act of the [[ballet]] ''[[Gayane (ballet)|Gayane]]'' (Гаянэ), written by [[Armenians|Armenian]] composer [[Aram Khachaturian]] (Ара́м Ильи́ч Хачатуря́н, Aram Il'ič Xačaturjan) and completed in 1942. It evokes a whirling [[war dance]] in an Armenian dance, where the dancers display their skill with [[sabre]]s. Its middle section incorporates an Armenian folk song from [[Gyumri]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music|first=Don Michael|last= Randel|publisher= Harvard University Press|year= 1996|isbn=0674372999}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Americana Song Reader|first= William Emmett|last= Studwell|publisher= Haworth Press|year= 1997|isbn=0789001500}}</ref> Due to its exceptionally exciting rhythm, "The Sabre Dance" established a place for itself in common concert practice, leading also to various adaptations in popular music. Its recognizable ostinato and popular melodies have made "Sabre Dance" a popular concert band piece.


The [[orchestra]]l version is written in the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[G major]]. It starts out with a recognizable [[Motif (music)|motif]] [[ostinato]] with the [[timpani]] and strings that can be heard throughout much of the piece. The upper [[woodwind]]s and [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]] [[percussion]] take an exciting dance melody, later accompanied by the [[Brass instrument|low brass]]. Then the [[string instrument|strings]] come in with a folk song melody. The first melody is then briefly [[Recapitulation (music)|recapitulated]]. Descending [[chromatic]] [[eighth note]]s bring the piece down to straight eighth notes on the [[Tonic (music)|note G]] in the low strings. The piece ends on ascending [[quarter note]]s in a F{{Music|#}} [[pentatonic scale]] (against the G bass) to an open G [[octave]].
The [[orchestra]]l version is written in G major. It starts out with a recognizable motif [[ostinato]] with the [[timpani]] and strings that can be heard throughout much of the piece. The upper [[woodwind]]s and keyboard [[percussion]] take an exciting dance melody, later accompanied by the [[Brass instrument|low brass]]. Then the [[string instrument|strings]] come in with a folk song melody. The first melody is then briefly [[Recapitulation (music)|recapitulated]]. Descending [[chromatic]] [[eighth note]]s bring the piece down to straight eighth notes on the note G in the low strings. The piece ends on ascending [[quarter note]]s in a F♯ [[pentatonic]] scale (against the G bass) to an open G [[octave]].

==In popular culture==
{{Trivia|date=January 2012}}
;Cover versions
*"The Sabre Dance" has been [[Cover version|covered]] by performers such as [[jazz]] musician [[Woody Herman]], Rock band, [[Spontaneous Combustion]], [[EMI Records]], virtuoso harmonica group Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats, vocal trio [[The Andrews Sisters]], [[rock and roll]] musician [[Dave Edmunds]] with the band [[Love Sculpture]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] guitarist [[Wolf Hoffmann]], [[Germany|German]] [[Progressive metal|progressive]] [[thrash metal]] band [[Mekong Delta (band)|Mekong Delta]], [[United Kingdom|British]] [[folk metal]] band [[Skyclad (band)|Skyclad]], German [[punk rock]] singer [[Nina Hagen]], [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[progressive rock]] group [[Ekseption]], Swedish melodic power metal band [[Reptilian (band)|Reptilian]], [[Tony Levin]], [[Vanessa Mae]], the string quartet [[Bond (band)|Bond]], contemporary [[swing music|swing]] band [[Brian Setzer Orchestra]], [[Les Fradkin]] with a MIDI Guitar version and [[United Kingdom|British]] [[punk rock]] bands [[The Boys (UK band)|The Boys]], [[UK Subs]] and [[Toy Dolls]]. [[The Disco Biscuits]] sometimes cover "Sabre Dance" at their live shows, often mixing in elements of [[Rock music|rock]] and [[trance music|trance]]. [[Pretenders (band)|Pretenders]] covered it during 1979 live shows; a recording appears on the two disc 2006 reissue of their eponymous debut album. [[Chick Rooster]] and The Barnyarders recorded the tune in [[London]] on September 29, 1949. It was released by [[EMI]] on the [[His Master's Voice]] label as catalog numbers B&nbsp;9837 and GM&nbsp;890.
*[[Michał Jelonek]] and his Band [[Jelonek]] covered this song on their [[2011]] album [[Revenge]]

;Variety
*The piece's popular familiarity has been enhanced by its traditional use as accompaniment by travelling [[circus]]es and on television [[variety shows]] such as ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' when novelty acts such as [[plate spinning|plate spinners]] appeared.

;Film
* Pianist [[Oscar Levant]] plays a piano transcription of the piece in the [[Fred Astaire]]-[[Ginger Rogers]] film ''[[The Barkleys of Broadway]]'' (1949).
* The piece reinforces [[James Cagney]]'s energetic performance in the final act of the 1961 comedy ''[[One, Two, Three]]'' as he plays a troubled executive making snap decisions to save his career.
* In the 1987 Kidsongs video and DVD "A Day at the Circus", the Sabre Dance plays in the background as the circus dogs play tricks.
* The [[Coen Brothers]]' 1994 film ''[[The Hudsucker Proxy]]'' also makes use of the music, in a scene in which a newly-invented [[hula hoop]] is picked up and used by a young boy for the first time. The piece was arranged and integrated into the wider score by [[Carter Burwell]], who also made use of Khachaturian's other well-known piece, the [[Grave (music)|Adagio]] from ''[[Spartacus (ballet)|Spartacus]]'', as the movie's main theme.
* In ''[[The Blues Brothers 2000]]'', when the main heroes encounter Russians in the grave and run, "Sabre Dance" can be heard for several seconds.
* In the feature film ''[[Kung Fu Hustle]]'', the Sabre Dance plays in the background as Sing ([[Stephen Chow]]) infiltrates a mental institution to spring an assassin known as the Beast.
* In the 2006 [[Woody Allen]] film ''[[Scoop (film)|Scoop]].
* In 2008 film [[Ghost Town (film)|Ghost Town]], when the character of [[Ricky Gervais]] Bertram Pincus runs from a horde of ghosts through tunnel in the park, a [[violin]] version of "Sabre Dance" could be heard, performed by a ghost musician in tunnel.

;Television
* The tune is frequently featured on the TV series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', usually to emphasize the fast pace of some situation (for example, in the episode "[[Bye Bye Nerdie]]") or during an activity containing sort of acrobatic skills (as in "[[Tennis the Menace]]").
* "Sabre Dance" is also the music played while ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'''s [[recurring character]] the [[Masturbating_Bear#Masturbating_Bear|Masturbating Bear]] masturbates on stage.
* The [[MSNBC]] TV program ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'' featured the music from 2003 until 2007 during ''Oddball'', a nightly news feature of bizarre stories, often referring to the tune as "this strange music".
* The piece can be heard in the ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' episode "Slimy Dancing".
* In the American sitcom ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' episode "The Work Song Nanocluster," Howard and Raj "sing" it while Leonard has his turn evading a laser field during "Secret Agent Laser Obstacle Chess." It is reprised later by Sheldon and Howard as Raj tries to manage the same laser field during "Secret Agent Laser Obstacle Lunch."
* In the American sitcom ''[[Two and a Half Men]]'' episode "I remember, the coatroom, I just don't remember you", Charlie plays the dance on piano while Jake and Rose are performing [[Magic (paranormal)|magic]] tricks.
* In the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "Peterotica", Peter distracts Lois by humming the tune and riding a unicycle.
* In the [[X-Files]] episode [[Syzygy (The X-Files)|Syzygy]] (season 3), the Sabre Dance is played several times, in Mulder's motel room and in the final scene.
* News program Teleprensa from [[El Salvador]] used a modern version of the song as intro for their newscasts in the 1980s during the [[Salvadoran Civil War]].
* In ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' episode "[[A Piano in the House]]", "Sabre Dance" is the song that brings out Esther Fortune's hidden thoughts and feelings.

;Sports
*The [[National Hockey League]] team [[Buffalo Sabres]] use the piece as a theme song.

;Video Games
*The [[Mega Drive]] and [[Super Nintendo]] video game, [[Aero the Acro-Bat]] contains the song as one of the level's soundtrack.


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

<!--spacing-->




==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/events/aram100/music.html 100th Anniversary Website] {{Dead link|date=December 2010}}
*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1287262 Article with several recordings], [[NPR]]
*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1287262 NPR article with several recordings]


[[Category:War dances]]
[[Category:War dances]]
[[Category:Compositions by Aram Khachaturian]]
[[Category:Compositions by Aram Khachaturian]]
[[Category:Ballets by Aram Khachaturian]]
[[Category:Ballets by Aram Khachaturian]]
[[Category:1942 compositions]]


[[cs:Šavlový tanec]]
[[cs:Šavlový tanec]]

Revision as of 20:09, 30 January 2012

This article is about the musical piece. For the aeronautical phenomenon in high-speed aircraft, see Sabre dance (aviation).
File:Khachaturian11111.jpg
Aram Khachaturian

"The Sabre Dance" (Armenian: Սուսերով Պար) is a movement in the final act of the ballet Gayane (Гаянэ), written by Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian (Ара́м Ильи́ч Хачатуря́н, Aram Il'ič Xačaturjan) and completed in 1942. It evokes a whirling war dance in an Armenian dance, where the dancers display their skill with sabres. Its middle section incorporates an Armenian folk song from Gyumri.[1][2] Due to its exceptionally exciting rhythm, "The Sabre Dance" established a place for itself in common concert practice, leading also to various adaptations in popular music. Its recognizable ostinato and popular melodies have made "Sabre Dance" a popular concert band piece.

The orchestral version is written in G major. It starts out with a recognizable motif ostinato with the timpani and strings that can be heard throughout much of the piece. The upper woodwinds and keyboard percussion take an exciting dance melody, later accompanied by the low brass. Then the strings come in with a folk song melody. The first melody is then briefly recapitulated. Descending chromatic eighth notes bring the piece down to straight eighth notes on the note G in the low strings. The piece ends on ascending quarter notes in a F♯ pentatonic scale (against the G bass) to an open G octave.

Cover versions
Variety
Film
  • Pianist Oscar Levant plays a piano transcription of the piece in the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film The Barkleys of Broadway (1949).
  • The piece reinforces James Cagney's energetic performance in the final act of the 1961 comedy One, Two, Three as he plays a troubled executive making snap decisions to save his career.
  • In the 1987 Kidsongs video and DVD "A Day at the Circus", the Sabre Dance plays in the background as the circus dogs play tricks.
  • The Coen Brothers' 1994 film The Hudsucker Proxy also makes use of the music, in a scene in which a newly-invented hula hoop is picked up and used by a young boy for the first time. The piece was arranged and integrated into the wider score by Carter Burwell, who also made use of Khachaturian's other well-known piece, the Adagio from Spartacus, as the movie's main theme.
  • In The Blues Brothers 2000, when the main heroes encounter Russians in the grave and run, "Sabre Dance" can be heard for several seconds.
  • In the feature film Kung Fu Hustle, the Sabre Dance plays in the background as Sing (Stephen Chow) infiltrates a mental institution to spring an assassin known as the Beast.
  • In the 2006 Woody Allen film Scoop.
  • In 2008 film Ghost Town, when the character of Ricky Gervais Bertram Pincus runs from a horde of ghosts through tunnel in the park, a violin version of "Sabre Dance" could be heard, performed by a ghost musician in tunnel.
Television
  • The tune is frequently featured on the TV series The Simpsons, usually to emphasize the fast pace of some situation (for example, in the episode "Bye Bye Nerdie") or during an activity containing sort of acrobatic skills (as in "Tennis the Menace").
  • "Sabre Dance" is also the music played while Late Night with Conan O'Brien's recurring character the Masturbating Bear masturbates on stage.
  • The MSNBC TV program Countdown with Keith Olbermann featured the music from 2003 until 2007 during Oddball, a nightly news feature of bizarre stories, often referring to the tune as "this strange music".
  • The piece can be heard in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Slimy Dancing".
  • In the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory episode "The Work Song Nanocluster," Howard and Raj "sing" it while Leonard has his turn evading a laser field during "Secret Agent Laser Obstacle Chess." It is reprised later by Sheldon and Howard as Raj tries to manage the same laser field during "Secret Agent Laser Obstacle Lunch."
  • In the American sitcom Two and a Half Men episode "I remember, the coatroom, I just don't remember you", Charlie plays the dance on piano while Jake and Rose are performing magic tricks.
  • In the Family Guy episode "Peterotica", Peter distracts Lois by humming the tune and riding a unicycle.
  • In the X-Files episode Syzygy (season 3), the Sabre Dance is played several times, in Mulder's motel room and in the final scene.
  • News program Teleprensa from El Salvador used a modern version of the song as intro for their newscasts in the 1980s during the Salvadoran Civil War.
  • In The Twilight Zone episode "A Piano in the House", "Sabre Dance" is the song that brings out Esther Fortune's hidden thoughts and feelings.
Sports
Video Games

Notes

  1. ^ Randel, Don Michael (1996). The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674372999.
  2. ^ Studwell, William Emmett (1997). The Americana Song Reader. Haworth Press. ISBN 0789001500.



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