Guyane Suite: "Sabre Dance"

Question 0

What is a glissando?

Answer 0

A rapid slide through a series of consecutive tones.

Question 1

What is a ballet?

Answer 1

A story told through music and dance

Question 2

What is an eighth note?

Answer 2

A note with 1/8 the value of the whole note.

Question 3

When did Khachaturian write Gayane Suite: “Sabre Dance”?

Answer 3

1942

Question 4

“Sabre Dance” is a section in which piece of music?

Answer 4

It’s a section in the final act of the ballet, Guyane.

Question 5

What does the B section feature in Guyana Suite: “Sabre Dance”?

Answer 5

The B section features in Armenian folk melody

Question 6

Where has Guyane Suite: “Sabre Dance” been heard in modern times?

Answer 6

It’s been used by Ice skaters in the Olympics, in films and TV series

Question 7

How did National Public Radio describe Guyana Suite: “Sabre Dance”?

Answer 7

“One of the catchiest, most familiar-perhaps most maddening-tunes to come out of the 20th century.”

Question 8

Tell a bit about the independence of Armenia in history and its present state.

Answer 8

Armenia established its independence centuries ago, but from 1922 1991 was part of the Soviet Union.

Armenia became it’s own country again in 1991 and today proudly claims Khachaturian as an Armenian composer.