Review
This is a popular encore piece taken from a larger work, along the lines of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee or Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. In this case, the Ritual Fire Dance is taken from Falla's ballet El Amor brujo (1914 - 1915). And just like those other pieces, it has been arranged for all sorts of instruments and ensembles. Falla's original scoring, in the first version of the ballet, was for a small ensemble of 14 or so instruments. He later extracted a piano suite from the ballet and in 1925, revised it for a larger orchestra. The Ritual Fire Dance since, then, has taken on a life of its own. The dance is mesmerizing and whirling, performed by the gypsies to exorcise a ghost; but it is also, like those other famous encores, a dramatic, exciting piece with a recognizable melody. In the opening, between the slower-paced bass line (originally in the piano) and the twice-faster melody (first in the oboe, then the violins), there is a driving, curling, repetitive figure, almost a rumbling (in the piano and strings). In the second section, the piano and lower strings resolutely bounce, while the brass and woodwinds take up the charge. Both sections are repeated before the coda, entirely expressed in full chords, to drive the ghost away once and for all. Alongside the many orchestral recordings, there are arrangements for the more typical ensembles: violin and piano, cello and piano, guitar or guitars, brass ensemble, two pianos, trumpet and piano. And there are arrangements for the atypical ensembles and instruments: trombone and piano, harmonica and piano, eight pianos, eight cellos, recorder and accordion, vibraphone. The piece works well on the piano or pianos because the instrument played an important role in Falla's original scoring. The guitar is also a natural, given the overall Spanish and folk flavor of the work. The effectiveness of the arrangement or performance is tied to conveying the fiery energy of the dance with proper reverence for the ritual. ~ Patsy Morita, All Music Guide
Albums with Complete Performances of the Work
100 Chefs d'Oeuvre de la Musique Classique 2006
100 Popular Classics [Box Set] 2000
20 Gramophone All-Time Greats, Vol. 3 1995
250 Years of Great Music: From Bach to Bernstein 1992
3 Great Danish Woman Pianists 1996
A Bouquet of Familiar Classics 1990
A Celebration [includes bonus DVD] 2004
A Classical Weekend
A Dream For Two
Aldo Ciccolini, Piano 1999
Alexander Brailowsky
Antonio Janigro; Cello Favorites 1988
Artur Rodzinski artist profile 1996
Artur Rubinstein: Saint-Saens; Franck 1994
Ballet Spectacular 1991
Beethoven / Brahms / Schumann / Faure / Stravinsky / De Falla / Mele
Beloved Classics 1997
Best Encores 100 2009
Best-Loved Classics 2 1997
Best-Loved Piano Classics 1 1997
Blue Aranjuez 1993
Bolero 1984
Bolero & Other Great Dance Hits 1992
Boléro and other Spanish Favourites 1997
Brailowsky Plays Virtuoso Showpieces 1996
Cafe del Mar: Classic, Vol. 3 2007
Camille Saint-Saëns: Concerto No. 2; Manuel de Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain 1987
Canciones y Danzas 1995
Cappuccino Classics 1996
Carmen Without Words 1990
Castles in Spain
Catherine Wilson and Friends 1995
Cello Essentials: The World's Greatest Cello Music 2008
Chill Out Classic 2000
Class Brass: Firedance 1999
Classic Explosion
Classical Cuisine: Spanish Spice 2004
Classical Dance 1998
Classical Favorites Advertiser's Guide (Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4) 2000
Classical Heat 2002
Classical Hits
Classical Journey (Box Set) 2001
Classical Journey (Box Set)
Classical Journey: Spain
Classical Jukebox, Vol. 2
Classical Moods [Big Eye] 2002
Classical Music For Home Improvements 1992
Classical Potpourri 1995
Classical Potpourri
Classics of Spain 2003
Classics to Broadway
Concerto and Rhapsody
Conchita Supervia I
Conchita Supervia I
Constantin Silvestri: The Collection, Vol. 4 2001
Dance Classics 1994
Dances 2006
Dancing through Time: Bach to Gershwin 2003
Daniel Shafran, cello 1952
Danses Classiques
Danzas y Canciones 1992
David Helfgott: Brilliantissimo
De Falla: Ritual Fire Dance; Mendelssohn: Song Without Words; Scarlatti: Sonata
Duende: Two-Piano Music from Spain 2000
Duo Pianists: Morley & Gearhart Rediscovered 2001
Edition Klavier-Festival Ruhr: Portraits III 2008
Encore! 1996
Espana 2003
España 1997
España! 1994
Essential Dance & Ballet Classics 1999
Exile On Classical Street 1996
Extreme Classics 1995
Falla: Canciones populares españolas G40; Granados: Danzas españolas Op37
Falla: Canciones y Danzas 1997
Famous Ballet Music, Vol. 1 1992
Famous Classical Waltzes, Overtures, Dance 2004
Famous Spanish Dances 1992
Famous Spanish Dances
Fantastic Favorites 1997
Fantastic Philadelphians 1999
Favourite Piano Classics
Ferrero Recordings 1930 - 1953
Filomena Moretti plays Albeniz, Bach, Barrios, De Falla, etc. 2002
Fire & Passion in the Classics 1999
Fire Dance 2002
Gallery of Classical Music [Box Set] 2005
Gallery of Classical Music: Invitation to the Dance 2000
Genius of Larry Adler 1999
Georges Cziffra: Ses Enregistrements Studio, 1956-1986 [Box Set] 2008
Gloria on Piano 2003
Granada 2003
Greatest Hits: Ballet 1995
Hi-Fi a la Española/Popovers 1994
High Fidelity Pipe Organ Favorites
Highlights from the Rubinstein Collection 1989
Historic Russian Archives: Mstislav Rostropovich Edition [Box Set]
Hollywood Bowl Concert (1928) 2004
Hollywood, Vol. 2 1997
Idiot's Guide to Classical Music 1995
In Classical Mood: Myth & Magic 1998
In Concert
Infernal Violins 2001
Janos Starker Virtuoso Music for Cello
Jungle Drums [RCA] 1957
L'Adagio d'Albinoni 1970
La Fiesta
La Guitarra Clasica Española
La Nuit 1999
Lazar Berman Edition (Box Set)
Lazar Berman Edition, Disc 3
Le Grand Tango Dances 1995
Le Quintette Moraguès Fait la Fête: 20 Ans de Concerts, 20 Ans de Bis 2000
Les Classiques au Soleil 2009
Les Grands Classiques D'Edgar [Box Set] 2007
Les Grands D'Espagne
Let's Do Spanish 1995
Liberace and the Lond 2002
Lollipops 1994
Love and Fire 2008
Manuel de Falla: Obras Para Piano 1992
Manuel de Falla: Piano Music Complete
Masters of the Bow: Cello 2003
Micro-Classics: Arrangements and Derangements of Some of the World's Most Beloved Melodies 1993
More Than Classical 2003
Music for Cello & Orchestra 1995
Music for Cello and Piano 1999
Music for Fitness 2008
Music from France and Spain 2005
Music from the Mediterranean
Music of the World: Italy & Spain, The Latin Quarter
Musiques d'Espagne 1996
Nina Kotova 1999
Ofra Harnoy Collection, Vol. 4: Flight of the Bumblebee & Other Virtuoso Showpieces 1996
Ofra Harnoy and Friends
Oppitz:Nocturne 1996
Orchestral Blockbusters 1992
Orientale 1994
Oscar Levant
Paul Mauriat Pop Classical Best Collection 2002
Piano Fantasy: Music for Two Pianos [Box Set]
Piano Festival 1995
Piano Passion [EMI] 2003
Pianomania, Vol. 4 1995
Pops Stoppers 1959
Portland Cello Project 2008
Power Classics 1994
Rarities Of Piano Music, 1994 1995
Ravel, Falla, Rodrigo and others
Rediscovered Master 2005
Rostropovich: The Russian Years 1998
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Spectacular-Classical, Opera & Ballet
Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 18 1999
Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 2
Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 70 1999
Rubinstein Favourites
Salut D'amour 1990
San Francisco Guitar Quartet 1991
Shura Cherkassky, Vol.1 1993
Silvestri: The Collection (Box Set) 2001
Sony Classical: Great Performances 1903-1998 1999
Spanish Fiesta
Spanish Fireworks 1989
Spanish Fireworks 1989
Spanish Guitar Favourites 1995
Spanish Guitar Magic! 2008
Spanish Impressions 1997
Spanish Songs 1994
Spanish Spectacular
Strike up the Band 2000
Symphonic Spectacular 1988
Symphony on the Green 1993
Tango Ritual 2005
Tchaikovsky/Massenet: Suites
Tea for Two 1988
The Art Of The Spanish Guitar
The Beautiful World of Classical Music, Vol. 6-10 (Box Set)
The Best of Classics for Kids 2005
The Best of Ofra Harnoy 1987
The Complete Solo American Columbia Recordings
The Encore Collection, Vol. 3 1990
The Flag Series-Spain 1996
The Great Pianists, Vol. 8: Artur Rubinstein
The Instruments of the Orchestra: The Orchestra
The Love Collection (Box Set) 1996
The Royal Treasury of Classical Music [Box Set]
The Royal Treasury of Classical Music [Box Set] 2005
The Royal Treasury of Classical Music, Vol. 5
The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set] 1999
The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set] 1999
The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set] 1999
The Russian Years 1997
The Spanish Piano 2008
The Ultimate Wizard Album 2004
The World's Favorite Music 1986
The World's Greatest Composers [Collector's Edition Music Tin] 2007
The World's Greatest Composers, Vol. 2 [Box Set] 2008
The young Arthur Rubinstein, 1919 - 1924: the master Duo-Art Piano rolls 1999
This is Classical 2006
Time Life Presents: Classical Thunder 2005
Tunes For Workout 1999
Tunes for Workout 1996
Ultimate Cello Classics [Box Set] 2007
Ultimate Classical Piano [Box Set] 2006
Up to 8 Pianos
Victoria de Los Angeles 1999
Violino Latino 2006
Violonchelo Español
Violonchelo Español
Virtuoso 2000
Virtuoso Guitar 1994
Viva Espãna!: The Music of Spain 1988
Vom Barock bis zum Rock 2004
Wizard of the Keyboard
Works by Albeniz, Marco, Montsalvatge and others 2000
World's Greatest Classics: Boccherini, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Rimsky-Korsakov and other great composers 1988
Yerlow in Concert 1995
Yerlow in Concert, Vol. 1 1995
¡España! 1994
Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work
