Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Melody), arrangement (from "Orfeo ed Euridice")

 
 

Review

The gently pastoral Dance of the Blessed Spirits beautifully exemplifies Gluck's revolutionary principle that in opera, music and poetry should never overstate their message. In other words, any complexity -- verbal or musical -- needs to be justified by essential dramatic content. Listeners will perhaps be astonished to hear this tranquil music in an opera about Orpheus' journey to Hades, the realm of the dead, in search of his departed wife Eurydice. In fact, in Act II of Gluck's great opera Orfeo ed Euridice, the Dance of the Blessed Spirits immediately follows the Dance of Furies, the vengeful spirits of Hades. Indeed, Greek mythology located Elysium, the world of the blessed, far from Hades. Gluck, however, follows the Homeric tradition, which places Elysium in the Underworld. Written for solo flute with string accompaniment, this piece is in simple ternary form (ABA), the first part an elegant, stately melody that conjures up images of pastoral tranquility under resplendent azure skies. It would be profoundly startling to encounter Death in this pastoral abode of the eternally blessed. The contrasting minore part, like a sudden zephyr disturbing the profound calm of a summer's afternoon, introduces, with its muted passion still within the confines of classical simplicity, an element of anguish that is perhaps an echo of the protagonist's earlier dialogue with the Furies. However, as the A section is reiterated, the idyllic landscape reappears, perhaps suggesting that Orpheus' quest will be successful. Of course, Gluck's vision of Greece was idealistic and in harmony with contemporary scholarship; nevertheless, this vision inspired music of great beauty and dramatic power. The Dance of the Blessed Spirits composition, which has appeared in many popular arrangements, truly embodies Gluck's classical genius. ~ All Music Guide

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title Date
100 Classical Masterpieces
100 Classical Masterpieces, Vol. 1
20 Gramophone All Time Greats-Vol.4 1996
25 Golden Classics 2003
60 Years, 60 Flute Masterpieces (Box Set) 1999
60 Years, 60 Flute Masterpieces, Vol. 2: The Rococo & Classical Eras 1999
A Baroque Festival 1994
A Baroque Festival
A Bride's Guide to Classical Wedding Music 2003
A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music 2002
A Celebration Of Piano Music From Castle Howard 1993
A Flutist's Favorites 2007
A Mellow Morning 2003
A Mellow Morning: Sounds of Silence 2005
A Night at the Opera 1986
A Night at the Opera 2008
A Touch of Romance 1996
A Window in Time 1999
A to Z of Opera 2000
Adagio Karajan 2
Adagio Music for A Romantic Evening 1996
Adagio ma non troppo
Adagio: Serene Classical Music for a Peaceful Mind
Adagio: Works of J.S. Bach, Beethoven & Brahms
Age Of Elegance - Greatest Hits 1996
Albinoni: Adagio; Pachelbel: Canon
An Evening with Friends 2002
Antonietta Rudge 2000
Arturo Toscanini Collection, Volume 66: Overtures & Preludes 1991
Arturo Toscanini: The New York Philharmonic Recordings 1991
Baby Sleep 1996
Bach Air and Other Baroque Favorites 1998
Badinerie 1997
Ballade 1998
Baroque Adagios 2002
Baroque Collection 1992
Baroque Favorites
Baroque Favourites
Baroque Favourites
Baroque For Dummies
Baroque Highlights
Baroque Highlights
Baroque Masterpieces 1995
Baroque Masterpieces 1997
Baroque Masterpieces 2002
Baroque Treasuries (Box Set) 1990
Baroque Treasuries, Vol. 6-10 (Box Set)
Beautiful Ballet 2002
Best Classics 100 [Box Set] 2004
Best of Baroque 1993
Best of Baroque 1993
Best of Baroque 1995
Best of the Classics [Box Set]
Best-Loved Baroque
Breathe: Relaxing Piano for Lovers 2008
Bruch, Paganini & Baroque 1996
Bruno Grossi: Flûte
Canon and Gigue-Popular Classics 1991
Capriccio 2006
Casanova: The Art of Seduction 2006
Casanova: The Art of Seduction 2006
Christmas Meditation, Vol. 1-5 1995
Christmas Meditation, Vol. 5 1995
Christoph Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Act II; Beethoven: Abscheulicher (Fidelio) 1992
Cien Obras Unicas de Música Clásica, Vol. 2
Classic Care (Box Set) 1998
Classic Care: Day-Dreams with Music 1998
Classic Hits
Classic Romance 2
Classical Chill Experience [Box Set] 2004
Classical Favourites, Vol. 1
Classical Hits
Classical Meditation 2001
Classical Rockies
Classical Songs You Know By Heart 1997
Classical Surroundings: Harp 1999
Classical Top 1000 [Box Set]
Classics In Love 1994
Classics by Candlelight 1993
Classics for Flute 1999
Classics for Flute 2002
Classics for Kids (Box Set) 1997
Classics for Relaxation
Classics for Relaxation [Box Set] 2002
Classics for Relaxation, Disc 2 2002
Classics for Relaxation, Vol. 1 1993
Concerti for Flute 1986
Continuum 2000
Dance of the Blessed Spirits 1998
Dance of the Blessed Spirits 1999
Dream Angels; Famous Orchestral Lullabies 1995
Dream Melodies
Earl Wild 1999
Edition Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Vol 18 2008
Enchantment: 40 Peaceful Classics 2002
Encounters & Embraces [DVD Audio]
Erica Morini Vol.1 2000
Escape Through Opera 2000
Etude 1998
Evening Light 1992
Familiar Melodies 2000
Famous Violin Miniatures 1994
Favorite Baroque Classics
Favorite Bedtime Songs 2007
Favorite Classics 1999
Favorite Flute
Feuermann: The English Columblas, Vol. 1
Flute Daydreams
Flute Dreams 1994
Flute Fantasy
Flute For Relaxation
Flute et Orgue à Notre-Dame de Paris
Flute: Greatest Hits 1989
For Yoga 2004
For a Day in Your Life (Box Set) 2002
For a Lazy Day: Meditation 2005
For a Lazy Day: Meditation 2005
Forever: 30 Romantic Guitar Miniatures 2006
French & German Flute Masterpieces 1999
Fritz Busch: His Complete Dresden Recordings [CD+DVD] 2008
From Bach to Piazzola 2005
Gateway To Classical Music: The Classical Era 1996
Gateway To Classical Music: Volume 1/Volume 2 1994
Glitter and Be Gay 1993
Gloria on Piano 2003
Gluck, Handel, Beethoven and others
Gluck: Overtures and Ballet Music 1994
Goin' for Baroque
Great Ballet Music 1997
Great Classical Composers 1993
Great Moments of Opera, Vol. 3 1993
Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) 1999
Greatest Hits Of 1790 1980
Greatest Hits: Flute 1994
Guiomar Novaes Plays Chopin
Guiomar Novaes; Otto Klemperer 1992
Handel, Albinoni, Gluck and others 1996
Harp and Recorder 2004
Heavenly Adagios 2003
Heifetz Transcriptions 2006
Heifetz: It Ain't Necessarily So 2006
Here Comes the Bride 1992
History of Classical Music 1999
Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy
In Classical Mood: Tranquility
In Memoriam 1996
Inner Peace: Classics for the Spirit 1995
Iona Brown: The Collection 1998
It's a Girl! Best Wishes: Soothing Melodies for Babies
Jacques Israelievitch: Suite Enfantine 1997
James Galway: Man with the Golden Flute 1992
Jan Kubelík, The Acoustic Recordings 1902-1913 1990
Jeux à Deux 1982
Joyous Violin 2000
Jura Margulis plays Piano Transcriptions 2006
KDFC Islands of Sanity 2002
Karajan Forever: The Greatest Classical Hits 2003
Karl Richter Edition: Mozart/Haydn/Gluck 1995
Klassiska Favoriter, Vol. 1 1994
Kreisler, Gluck, Dvorak and others 1998
Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and others
La Ronde des Berceuses
Legendary Flutist, Vol. 1 2003
Legendary Recordings with the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra...(Toscanini Edition) 1998
Levada
Levitzki: Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 2002
Liszt, Gluck, Schubert and others
Liszt, Rubinstein, Gluck and others
Mad About Angels 1995
Masters of the Opera, 1642-1843, Vol. 1-5 (Box Set)
Masters of the Opera, 1642-1926 (Box Set)
Masters of the Opera, Vol. 1, 1642-1771
Meditation
Meditation
Meditation
Meditation Classics 2008
Meditation: A Unique Relaxation Experience (Box Set) 1998
Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set) 1991
Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set) 2002
Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set) 1991
Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Box Set) 2001
Meditation: Classical Relaxation (Collectors Edition) (Box Set) 2002
Meditation: Classical Relaxation, Vol. 1
Meditation: Classical Relaxation, Vol. 1 1998
Meditations 1996
Mischa Elman: The Solo Victor Recordings (1910-24) Vol.2 (1913-17)
Mischa Levitzki: His Rarest Recordings (1923-1929)
Mommy & Me: Sleepytime Strings 2000
Moonlight Classics 2003
Mozart's Learning Tools for Your Child's Mind: Learning in the Dream State
Mozart: Flute Concertos; Concerto for Flute & Harp; Andante in C major [DVD Video]
Music For Flute And Harp 1993
Music For Inspiration 2000
Music for Flute and Harp 2002
Music for Meditation "Adagio"
Music for My Little Friends 2002
Music for Relaxation 1991
Music for Romance 2000
Music for Strings 1996
Music for a Goddess: Great Opera & Orchestral Classics for an Indulgent Moment 2003
Music from Cranberry Isles 1991
Muzika Feyyerverka (Fireworks Music) 2005
Night Music 11 1992
Night Music 4 1989
Night Music, Vol.1: Classical Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming 1990
Night in Berlin [DVD Audio]
On Wings of Song
On Wings of Song: Melodies for Flute & Harp 1998
Opera-Intermezzi
Pachelbel Canon: Baroque Favorites (Box Set) 1998
Pachelbel: Canon 1983
Pachelbel: Canon 1988
Pachelbel: Canon/Albinoni: Adagio For Organ And Strings/Bach: Suite No.3/Vivaldi: Concerto/Gluck: Dance Of The Blesse 1996
Pachelbel: Kanon; Albinoni: Adagio 1995
Pachelbel: Kanon; Albinoni: Adagio; Bach: Air... 1985
Pachelbel: Kanon; Albinoni: Adagio; Bach: Air; Boccherini: Minuet 1985
Parents The Lullaby Album 1993
Perfect Spring Wedding 2005
Piano Transcriptions 1997
Piano Transcriptions 2003
Pierre Monteux Decca & Philips Recordings 1956-1964 [Box Set] 2006
Portrait of Rampal 1988
Pupils of Leschetizky
Pure Classical 2007
Pure Classics 1997
Quiet Moods 1998
Rampal: Encores 1978
Rarities Of Piano Music 1989 1990
Recorded Violin, Vol. ll
Reflections 2006
Relaxing Adagios 2006
Relaxing Classics
Romance of the Violin 2003
Romancing the Violin
Romantic Classics for Unforgettable Moments 1994
Romantic Evening Music (Box Set)
Romantic Evening Music (Box Set)
Romantic Evening Music for Flute, Vol. 1
Romantic Flute 1999
Romantic Harp 1996
Romantic Music for Flute and Harp 1993
Romantic Music for Flute and Harp 1993
Romantic Piano Favourites (Box Set) 1994
Romantic Rarities: Volume Two 1991
Romantic Trumpet
Salut d'amour 2004
Santiago De Murcia Codex 2005
Sarabande: Baroque Favourites 2002
Serenade 1990
Serenade 2003
Serenade 1996
Serenade
Serenade
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano 2000
Sergei Rachmaninoff: In Concert II 1990
Sergei Rachmaninoff: The Complete Recordings 1992
Simply Sarah 1997
Soft Lights, Sweet Music 1993
Soft Lights-Sweet Music 1993
Solid Gold Baroque 1991
Stamitz, Richter, Haydn, Gluck: Flute Concertos 1992
Sunday Morning Favourites 2005
Sunday Paper, Vol. 1, No. 1 1997
Sweet Dreams: Baby's First Classics 1998
Sweet Sorrow 1999
Symphony of Sleep 2000
The Adagio Box (Box Set)
The Art Of Egon Petri-Concert Performances And Broadcasts, 1954-1962
The Art of Nathan Milstein [Box Set] 1993
The Art of the Transcription
The Art of the Violin, Vol. 1 1999
The Best Of The Academy 1995
The Best of the Academy 2003
The Best of the Classics, Vols. 6 - 10 1995
The Christmas Collection: Classical 2007
The Complete Brunswick Recordings 1993
The Complete Josef Hofmann, Vol. 5 1997
The Complete Recordings 1904-17, Vol. 1 2001
The Complete Victor 78s
The Decca Masters, Vol. 1
The Four Seasons (Collectors Edition) [Box Set] 2002
The Four Seasons and Other Baroque Treasures [Box Set] 2001
The Great Flautists
The Great Flautists, Vol. 2
The Great History of German Classical Music
The HMV Classics Collection: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter 1994
The InStyle Wedding Collection: Beautiful Music for Your Big Day 2005
The Instruments of Classical Music (Box Set) 2001
The Instruments of Classical Music (Box Set)
The Instruments of Classical Music, Vol. 1-5 (Box Set)
The Instruments of Classical Music, Vol. 1: The Flute
The Kreisler Collection: The Early Victor Recordings, Volume 1 1990
The Legendary James Galway: Man With the Golden Flute 2001
The Little Record of Calm: Favorite Adagios 1999
The Magic Flute: Operatic Fantasies for Flute and Orchestra
The Most Beautiful Melodies Of...
The Most Beautiful Melodies of Bach, Gluck, Haydn, Chopin, and others
The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music, Vol. 1-10 (Box Set) 1998
The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music: The Four Seasons 1998
The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music: The Four Seasons & Voices of Spring (Box Set) 1998
The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World... Ever!, Vol. 2 1998
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the World...Ever! 2005
The Most Relaxing Pachelbel Canon and Baroque Favorites in the Universe 2009
The Most Unforgettable German Classics Ever 2000
The Parlour Grand, Vol.2 1997
The Parlour Grand: Piano Favorites from a Bygone Era 2003
The Power of Classical Music 2003
The Romance Collection 1996
The Romance Collection 1996
The Romantic Flute 1994
The Romantic Flute 2003
The Romantic Flute
The Romantic Violin
The Spinning Girl 2005
The Top 10 of Classical Music, 1731-1775 2001
The Top 100 Masterpieces Of Classical Music (Box Set) 1991
The Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Box Set) 1991
The Ultimate Recorder Collection 1999
The Ultimate Relaxation Collection (Box Set) 2003
The Ultimate Relaxing Classical Collection 1999
The Very Best Of Romantic Favorites 1994
The Very Best of Ballet 1995
The Virtuoso Flute, Vol. 3 1996
The Way You Look Tonight 2007
The World's Greatest Classics 1993
Timeless Classics 1993
Top 10 of Classical Music: Baroque 1995
Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Box Set) 2001
Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Collectors Edition) (Box Set) 2002
Top Ten of Classical Music (Box Set) 1995
Toscanini and the New York Philharmonic, 1926-36
Toscanini: Gli Anni Della Maturita
Tranquil Classics: Meditation 1997
Transcriptions for Chromatic Harmonica (French Compositions) 1999
Ultimate Relaxation Album, Vol. 4 2003
Ultimate Violin Classics: The Essential Masterpieces [Box Set] 2007
Unforgettable Classics: Flute 1997
Unforgettable Classics: Peace 1998
Unforgettable Classics: Relaxation 1997
Unforgettable Classics: Vivaldi, Pachelbel, Clarke and others 1995
Victoria Rowell Presents The Power of Classical Music 1999
Vienna Philharmonic 'On Holiday' 1997
Violin Virtuoso 1990
Violin, Trumpet, Guitar, Flute: Greatest Hits 1995
Virtuoso Violin 2000
Visions Of Dunbar 1994
Waltz & Dances 2003
Weekday Soother 1999
Winter Harp 1994
With This Ring: Ceremony Music 2001
World's Most Beautiful Music Collection 1994
World's Most Beautiful Music Collection (Box Set) 1994
Your Favourite Classics 1995
É uma Menina!

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title Date
50 Classical Performances: Waltz & Dance 2002
Life is Beautiful, Vol. 2: Music for a Relaxing Weekend 2005
Music For Inspiration 2000
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a word or phrase...
All Community Q&A Reference topics
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Classical Work. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more