August Bournonville in the range of composers

Abstract

The article highlights the collaboration of the Danish choreographer August Bournonville (1805–1879) with the composers who wrote the music for his ballets: J. F. Froelich, H. S. von Levenskold, J. P. E. Hartmann, E. M. Helsted, H. S. Paulli, N. Gade, H. S. Lumby, K. K. Möller. Possession of musical abilities, supported by extensive musical experience and knowledge, led to the possibility of mutual understanding and fruitful collaboration between the choreographer and the musicians.

In joint work with composers, Bournonville made extensive use of the musical performance (violin, vocal) and improvisational capabilities acquired during his studies for an accurate and detailed demonstration and explanation of his ideas regarding music. The choreographer also actively used professional musical and editorial skills, carrying out independent selection of music for use in composite compositions, as well as inclusion in the author’s composer scores. Bournonville also practiced a special “team method” involving several composers at the same time to work on the score. Clearly presenting the general constructive idea of the ballet, the choreographer coordinated the well-coordinated work of the musicians, achieving compositional integrity, intonational and stylistic unity of the musical series.

During his long creative career, Bournonville has performed more than sixty successful productions to the music of a whole galaxy of composers - masters of the Golden Age of Danish culture. Working with the creators of music on the terms of an equal artistic partnership, Bournonville thus gradually changed the establishment of the theatrical ballet tradition and contributed to the formation of a first-class national school of composers.