Western Symphony is a ballet made by New York City Ballet co-founder and founding choreographer George Balanchine to American folk tunes arranged by Hershy Kay. It premiered on September 7, 1954 at the City Center of Music and Drama in New York. The ballet was originally presented in practice clothes without scenery. Scenery by John Boyt and costumes by Karinska were added in 1955. Lighting was originally by Jean Rosenthal and subsequently Mark Stanley. Set in the Western United States, the ballet features cowboys and dance hall girls (or saloon girls).
Setting The ballet follows no plot but presents several short stories throughout the ballet (similar to Serenade) outside a saloon. It is almost a satire on classical ballet with imitations of Giselle and Swan Lake (second movement). The ballet originally had four movements:
Allegro The Allegro is for four cowboys, eight girls (divided into two groups of four) and a lead couple. The lengthy Allegro goes for about ten minutes.
Adagio (Waltz) The Adagio (Waltz) is for a lead couple and four girls representing horses. This movement is set at night. The cowboy is chasing after the lead girl who eludes him and eventually, after some flirtation, leaves without him.
Scherzo The Scherzo was removed ca. 1960 due to the complex nature of the female bravura dancing required.
Rondo The Rondo has a lead couple but is for the entire cast.
Music Hershey Kay adapted and arranged the music from traditional Western melodies:
Red River Valley Old Taylor Rye Whiskey
Lolly-Too-Dum Good Night, Ladies Oh, Dem Golden Slippers The Girl I Left Behind Me
Although the movements are entitled Allegro, Adagio (Waltz) and Rondo they don't really remain true to their titles. There is an extended Adagio pas de deux section in the Allegro, and similarly with the Adagio, the Waltz speeds up to a lively tempo.
Original cast First movement: Allegro
Diana Adams and 8 women
Herbert Bliss and 4 men
Second movement: Adagio
Janet Reed and 4 women
Nicholas Magallanes
Third movement: Scherzo
Patricia Wilde and 4 women
André Eglevsky
Fourth movement: Rondo
Tanaquil LeClercq and 4 women
Jacques d'Amboise and 4 men
References
Playbill, New York City Ballet, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Repertory Week, New York City Ballet, Spring Season, 2008 repertory, week 1
Recording
1959 KAPP records Inc. produced a recording by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Robert Irving, Conductor. Side one was "Stars and Stripes" and side two was "Western Symphony". KAPP Classics High Fidelity (KCL-9036)
Television broadcasts, filmography and videography
Television Australian television (Fourth movement Rondo) 1958 French television, FR3 (Balanchine à Arc et Senans) 1977 PBS, Dance in America, Balanchine (Fourth movement Rondo) 1984 PBS, Dance in America, Balanchine in America (excluding the Third movement Scherzo) 1990 PBS, Dance in America, The Balanchine Celebration (Fourth movement Rondo and finale) 1993 BBC 2 (London) 1993
Film Monitor Productions, 1955
Video The Balanchine Library, The Balanchine Celebration, Part Two (Fourth movement Rondo, 1993), 1996 Kultur, Balanchine (excerpts from the Second movement Adagio and Fourth movement Rondo), 2004
Reviews
NY Times by John Martin, September 8, 1954 NY Times by John Martin, October 31, 1962 NY review by Clive Barnes, May 17, 1968
NY Times by Jennifer Dunning, February 3, 1981 NY Times by Jack Anderson, May 28, 2004 NY Times by Alastair Macaulay, February 12, 2008 NY Times by Alastair Macaulay, October 9, 2010
External links Western Symphony on the website of the Balanchine Trust