A Timeless Tale of Magic and Love: The Nutcracker
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Every fall, they start popping up in craft and home decor stores, they are collected by many and embraced by all. What are they? Nutcrackers, of course! Everyone knows and can hum the tune of the famous ballet. Many of our little girls have had at least one experience of being on stage as a snow flake or an attendant to the Sugar Plum fairy. And of course there are several picture books available to read the sweet story of Clara (or Marie) and her Christmas present. It has become a beloved holiday tradition.
The story
We are all familiar with the story of the Christmas Eve party, in Victorian Germany, where Clara, or Marie, depending on the version, receives a beautiful nutcracker from her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer. During the festivities Clara’s nutcracker is broken. She sadly goes to bed at the foot of the Christmas tree holding on to her broken toy. During the night, mise invaded the living room and started fighting against lead soldiers who had come to life. Suddenly the nutcracker springs to life as well and directs the battle, leading the soldiers to victory, after Clara’s intervention. After his victory the nutcracker introduces himself to Clara as a prince and leads her to the Land of Sweets. There, the decadence of sweets whirls around Clara and the prince, led by the Sugar Plum Fairy. After which the prince and Clara are sent home. Clara wakes up on Christmas morning with a fixed nutcracker and delicious memories.
Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Born in 1840 in imperial Russia Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky is probably one of the best known Russian composers of his time. Imperial Russia of the mid to late nineteenth century was resplendent and a center of the arts, especially music and dance. It was the perfect time and place for Tchaikovsky to grow in fame and become a highly regarded composer.
In 1890 the director of the Imperial Theaters commissioned Tchaikovsky to compose a ballet based on the story “ The Nutcracker and the Mouseking” by Alexandre Dumas, an adaptation of the tale written by E.T.A Hoffman. The Imperial Theaters were crucial in shaping Russian culture in the Nineteenth century and were attended by elite society and the Tsar and his family.
The ballet
The ballet premiered on December 18th, 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia and was kind of a flop. Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite was an instant success but the choreography by Marius Petipa was not. However it laid the groundwork for the ballet we know and love today. One of the major innovations of the ballet was the presence of children ballerinas as the main characters for Clara and Fritz. The ballet finally made its way first to Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. Then in the mid twentieth century it came to America. It was performed for the first time in San Francisco in 1944. But it was not until 1954 that it became the hit that it is now, when George Balanchine reworked the choreography.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
The music
The Nutcracker is definitely one of Tchaikovsky better known compositions. My favorite thing about this composition is the use of the celesta. Did you know that Tchaikovsky was one of the first composers to use the brand new celesta in a symphony orchestra? The celesta is a piano looking instrument with a magical sound: the tinkles in The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. These magical sounds are made by felted hammers tapping small metal boxes. Tchaikovsky discovered the celesta, as the legend goes, during a trip to France and immediately ordered an instrument and had it sent to Russia. Here is all about this wonderful instrument. I found learning about it fascinating. If you want to order one, get in line as they are very rare and take several years to receive. It is truly a special instrument that brings the celestial to earth.
The magic
The story of The Nutcracker embodies everything magical about Christmas, from a purely secular perspective. From the magnificent Christmas tree to the snow and spices dancing in Clara’s dreams, the magic is all there. It is the simple, pure magic that childhood dreams are made of. How very interesting that in French the ballet is called “féerique” which means magical, and that the ballet genre is also a French word: “féerie”, which means fairy play. It just seems so suited and such a great definition of The Nutcracker: a magical fairy play! The ballet-féerie emphasizes the show and the special effects much more than a regular ballet would. Trap doors, illusions and a quickly changing sets as well as a focus on ensemble dances rather than a Prima Ballerina are what set a ballet-féerie apart.
Picture Books
There are several lovely versions of The Nutcracker in picture books.
My favorite is, of course, the Jan Brett version.
- Jan Brett’s Nutcracker by Jan Brett: the illustrations are absolutely darling and bring the story to life. Jan Brett took several liberties, such as changing the Sugar Plum Fairy into the Snow Princess, but these are minor details that do not take anything away from the story. One great addition, in my opinion, is the mention of the celesta! The wonderful instrument that was first used in a composition by Tchaikovsky.
- The Nutcracker, by Susan Jeffers is next in line. Her illustrations are exquisite, the text short and to the point, perfect for younger children. I especially like her angels, they are so beautiful!
- The Nutcracker in Harlem, by T.E. McMorrow, illustrated by James Ransome. A lovely story of a little girl achieving her dream.
I am sure that there are more, but these are the ones that I am familiar with and that we have enjoyed through the years.
However, for this year we are adding these two books:
- Noelle of the Nutcracker by Pamela Jane and illustrated by Jan Brett. It is a short chapter book and it seems lovely. I’ll let you know once we are done reading what I really think of it.
- The Nutcracker by Niroot Puttapipat is also on its way. It is a complete splurge as it is out of print and comes from overseas, but I could not resist the illustrations. I’ll let you know how it is.
Last but not least!
In all the different traditions that have evolved around the Nutcracker, my favorite is the one that has grown and grown in Steubenville, Ohio! Over the last ten years The Steubenville Nutcracker Village has grown to include 200 life size nutcrackers on display from Thanksgiving to Epiphany. If you can go and visit in person I know that it is a fantastic family outing! It is on my bucket list and someday we will make it! If you cannot go in person, definitely explore the gallery and find a new favorite addiction. You are very welcome!
Merry Christmas!
As a special present to each and everyone of you, here is a little something I concocted: The Nutcracker, a FREE download picture book exploration. I hope you and your family enjoy this wonderful holiday tradition as much as I do!
Very Merry Christmas to all!
Love,
Mattie
