Can someone please answer this question? My violin teacher wanted me to find this out

Why did tchaikovsky call Act3 Scene 22 of Swan Lake the 'neapolitan dance/song'?


Thanks





sorry for the error in the title. It's grade 4, not 3

I'm not quite sure...but it's a great piece though isn't it? Especially the presto at the end!

Because Tch. based it on an original Italian folk song.

Yes, and in the story it comes at the ball to celebrate Prince Siegfried's coming of age, and where he is to choose a bride from the visiting Princesses. Consequently there are Princesses (and entourages) there from many nations. This is represented by the Hungarian Dance, the Russian Dance, the Spanish dance, the Neopolitan dance, and the Mazurka (presumably the Polish contingent).

(Of course he gets totally duped (being colour blind and unable to tell the difference between black and white swans), and doesn't choose any of the visiting foreign princesses, but pledges himself to Odile...it can only end in tears...)

Yes you need a whole bucketful of 'suspension of disbelief'

Maybe he just thought Odette had decided to wear her 'little black dress' to the party. In any case her over- confidence and complete showing off in the fouettés, which was a complete character change from the nervous and shy swan he met earlier, should have alerted him. Not a bright lad was he?

He sure wasn't and it doesn't say a lot about 'true love' does it! It the same problem with Tristan and Isolde - she has to be drugged to fall in love -

Thanks this gave me a right giggle. I think Odile & EvilDaddy cast a spell also, didn't they? But yeah, DURRRR, Siegfried, NOT the brightest of buttons, are we!