Sabre Dance

Template:Short description Template:About {{#invoke:Listen|main}}

File:Khachaturian Sabre Dance cover Indianapolis Symphony 1953.png

The cover of a 1953 record of "Sabre Dance" by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra<ref name="Indianapolis">Template:Cite news</ref>

"Sabre Dance"Template:Efn is a movement in the final act of Aram Khachaturian's ballet Gayane (1942), where the dancers display their skill with sabres.<ref name="atlantasymphony"/> It is Khachaturian's best known and most recognizable work worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the composer’s own words, the “Dance of the Kurds”, which subsequently became the “Sabre Dance”, originated with the insistence of the Director of the Kirov Theatre already after the rehearsal process had commenced. Although Khachaturian considered the score to be complete, he reluctantly agreed to add another dance in the last act.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

"Sabre Dance" is considered one of the signature pieces of 20th-century popular music.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was popularized by covers by pop artists,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> first in the U.S. in 1948 and later elsewhere. Its use in a wide range in films and television over the decades have significantly contributed to its renown.<ref name="ungmusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Sabre Dance" has also been used by a number of figure skaters from at least five countries in their performances.

Composition

It is notable for its employment of percussion instruments, especially the xylophone<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (or tubaphone).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Daniel Chetel wrote that it features "very active percussion" with the lead of the xylophone and "dramatic glissandi for the trumpet and trombone."<ref name="Chetel"/>

Its brief middle section in Template:Music includes a prominent cello soli in tenor clef and alto saxophone,<ref name="Chetel"/> and is based on an unnamed Armenian folk song.<ref name="atlantasymphony">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to Tigran Mansurian, it is a synthesis of an Armenian wedding dance tune from Gyumri tied in a saxophone counterpoint "that seems to come straight from America."<ref>In the documentary Khachaturian (2003, directed by Peter Rosen), Tigran Mansurian states at around 33:00: "What an interesting synthesis! He's taken a melody from Gyumri, an Armenian wedding dance tune ... and he's tied in a saxophone counterpoint that seems to come straight from America. The relationship between the two seems so organic, so interesting!"
The film is available online: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Woodwind auxiliaries include the piccolo, English horn, and bass clarinet. The harp is active throughout, while the celesta plays at the very end.<ref name="Chetel"/>

Popularity and critical reception

NPR described it as "one of the catchiest, most familiar—perhaps most maddening—tunes to come out of the 20th century."<ref name="NPR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The New York Times noted that Khachaturian "never disowned the 'Sabre Dance', but he did feel, apparently, that it deflected attention from his other works." He told an American interviewer, "It's like one button on my shirt, and I have many buttons."<ref>Template:Cite news (archived)</ref> According to Nikolai Kapustin, Khachaturian did not like "when people are constantly performing his Sabre Dance and whistling at the same time." Kapustin told how Khachaturian once "imitated that kind of performance for us. We were laughing. Khachaturian, as well as Prokofiev, had a special sense of humor. They liked to joke with their friends, but only with close people, not everyone."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Steven Poole notes that its "insistent xylophone-accented melody" has "become a kind of global musical shorthand for cartoonish urgency."<ref name="Poole"/> Critics Peter G. Davis and Martin Bernheimer have called it "infamous" and "obnoxious,"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jed Distler characterized it as "notorious",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while David Mermelstein called it "garish and ubiquitous."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Other critics have called it "furiously paced",<ref>Template:Cite news </ref> "flashing",<ref name="DesertNews">Template:Cite news</ref> "rollicking,"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "rousing",<ref name="Taruskin"/> "bustling,"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "blazing",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "high-tension, catchy and rhythmically insistent".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Classical performances and recordings

File:Oscar Levant in Rhapsody in Blue trailer.jpg

Oscar Levant helped popularize "Sabre Dance" in the United States in 1947–49.

After World War II, records of dances from Khachaturian's ballet Gayane reached the west and "Sabre Dance" "caused an immediate sensation and straightaway becoming a popular classical hit."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1948, three records of "Sabre Dance" reached number one in the Billboard Best-Selling Records by Classical Artists: by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Artur Rodziński),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> by the New York Philharmonic (conducted by Efrem Kurtz),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Efn and by the pianist Oscar Levant (Columbia Records).<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> They were among the Year's Top Selling Classical Artists,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and it was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's first million-selling record.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A record by the Boston Pops Orchestra also made it to the classical chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

According to the Current Biography Yearbook, it was Levant's performance that "received popular attention."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Levant published a piano solo version of it and played the piece five times on the radio program Kraft Music Hall between December 1947 and December 1948.<ref name="BoydLevant"/> He also played it on the piano in the 1949 film The Barkleys of Broadway.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

"Sabre Dance" has also been recorded by Russian-American violinist Jascha Heifetz (1948, transcribed it for violin/piano),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="kaput"/> Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Fabien Sevitzky, in 1953),<ref name="Indianapolis"/> the Hungarian-French pianist György Cziffra (1956),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Yuri Temirkanov, 1986),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the London Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Stanley Black, 1989),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Irish flute player James Galway (1993 album Dances for Flute),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Alexander Lazarev, 1994),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the National Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Loris Tjeknavorian, 2005),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Franco-Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović (2014).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1986 Irish flautist James Galway made a flute transcription of "Sabre Dance" along with other works of Khachaturian.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Covers

U.S. hit (1948)

In 1948 "Sabre Dance" was recorded by a number of singers and became a jukebox hit in the U.S.,Template:Refn prompting Newsweek to suggest that it could be called the "Khachaturian Year in the United States."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

By May 1948, three records of "Sabre Dance"—a pop-boogie hit by Freddy Martin,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a dance-band version by Woody Herman,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and a vocal version by The Andrews Sisters with harmonica backing<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>—made it to Billboard's Most-Played Juke Box Records at No. 8, No. 13, and No. 28, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Aside from these three versions, it was also recorded by Victor Young's orchestra (Decca Records),<ref name="kaput"/> Ray Bloch's orchestra (Signature Records), Macklin Marrow's orchestra (MGM), pianist Oscar Levant (Columbia Records), the Angie Bond Trio (Dick Records), and the Harmonickings (Jubilee Records), Macklin Morrow (MGM), Harry Horlick (Crown Recordings).<ref name="kaput"/> According to John Sforza "Sabre Dance" is a "good example of multiple recordings of the same song in the 1940s recording industry."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The pianist David Rose played it on The Red Skelton Show.<ref name="kaput"/> Charles Magnante offered an arrangement for the accordion and Harry James one for trumpet.<ref name="kaput"/>

Two decades later, in 1968, when Khachaturian visited the U.S., New York Post music critic Harriett Johnson noted that "Sabre Dance" is Khachaturian's "most popular piece in this country."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> New York Times critic Harold C. Schonberg agreed, calling it "enormously popular" and adding that the "little whirling piece occupies the same place in his output that the C sharp minor Prelude did in Rachmaninoff's."<ref name="Schonberg68"/>

Later versions

• Liberace played it live on television.Template:Refn It was released in the 2002 album Legendary Liberace: Musical Highlights of the PBS Special.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• In 1966 Mikhail Rozhkov and Georgiy Minyayev played it on balalaika and guitar, respectively, on Soviet Central Television.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• An electric guitar version by Dave Edmunds' band Love Sculpture reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1968.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also reached No. 6 in Switzerland,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> No. 20 in the Netherlands,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and No. 28 in West Germany.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Dutch rock band Ekseption covered it in their debut album Ekseption in 1969.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Boyan Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments performed it in 1970 on the Soviet variety show Goluboy ogonyok.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• James Last covered it in his 1972 album Russland zwischen Tag und Nacht.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Spontaneous Combustion released a 1973 single with two versions: "Sabre Dance" produced by the band, and their alternative arrangement "And Now For Something Completely Different! – Sabre Dance" produced by Robert Fripp, Esq., with Fripp on guitar.
• The Pretenders, a British–American rock band, performed a cover live at the Marquee Club, London in 1979, which was later included in the 2006 reissue of their eponymous debut album.
• The English punk rock band The Boys covered it in their 1979 album To Hell with the Boys.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Ivan Rebroff covered it in a 1982 concert in Sydney.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The song "The Lord's Prayer" in German punk rock singer Nina Hagen's 1985 Nina Hagen in Ekstasy album features an interpolation of "Sabre Dance".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The English punk rock band U.K. Subs covered it in their 1988 album U.K. Subs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The English punk rock band Toy Dolls covered it in their 1989 album Wakey Wakey.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The Minsk-based female performing group Charovnitsy (Чаровницы) performed it at Moscow's Luzhniki Palace of Sports for a televised New Years concert in 1989.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• The German heavy metal band Mekong Delta covered it in their 1992 album Kaleidoscope.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Third track on 1994 single "Didn't Know I Had It" by Cheap Trick.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• It is heavily sampled in "Sodom and Gomorrah" by the German heavy metal band Accept, from their 1994 album Death Row.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• "Šavlový tanec" in the 1995 album Šlágry by the Czech metal band Master's Hammer.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• The British heavy metal Skyclad covered it in their 1996 album Irrational Anthems.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• A cover by Vanessa-Mae appeared in her 2004 album Choreography.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• It is sampled in the Bond song "Highly Strung" from their 2004 album Classified.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• American rock musician Tony Levin covered it in his 2006 album Resonator.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Use in popular culture

"Sabre Dance" has been used in numerous films, animated films, television series, video games, and commercials over the years, oftentimes for humorous effects.<ref name="imdb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The piece's popular familiarity has been enhanced by its traditional use as accompaniment by travelling circuses<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and on television variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971) when novelty acts such as plate spinners appeared.<ref name="NPR"/>

Conan O'Brien's late night talk show (1993–2009) used it as the theme for the masturbating bear.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Russia, the KVN team Uralskiye pelmeni performed a sketch using the piece in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On June 6, 2013, on the 110th anniversary of Khachaturian's birthday a modern take of the Sabre Dance—Sabre Dance on the Street—was performed at Yerevan Cascade by the Barekamutyun dance ensemble and Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Films and series

Films in which "Sabre Dance" was used include The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), One, Two, Three (1961),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The System (1964), The Seven Brides of Lance-Corporal Zbruyev (1970),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Amarcord (1973), Well, Just You Wait! 6th episode "Countryside" (1973), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Repentance (1987), Punchline (1988), Hocus Pocus (1993), Radioland Murders (1994), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Don't Drink the Water (1994), I Married a Strange Person! (1997), Vegas Vacation (1997), A Simple Wish (1997), Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), The Lion King 1½ (2004), Kung Fu Hustle (2005), Scoop (2006), Sicko (2007), Ghost Town (2008), Witless Protection (2008), Le Concert (2009), Pájaros de papel (2010), Sabre Dance (2015).<ref name="imdb" /> In his frenzied comedy One, Two, Three, director Billy Wilder used the dance repeatedly for comic effect, including a crazed chase through East Berlin, and the chaotic closing ride to the airport featuring James Cagney and Horst Buchholz. It was also played briefly in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. A band plays the song in the beginning of the movie Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022).

Some notable television shows that have used it include The Jack Benny Program (1961), "A Piano in the House" from The Twilight Zone (1962), The Onedin Line (1971 and 1972), The Benny Hill Show (1985), Our Very First Telethon episode of Full House (1990), The Simpsons (1991), The Nanny (1996), "Dexter Is Dirty" from Dexter's Laboratory (1997), Two and a Half Men (2004), "Recipe for Disaster" from What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2004), "Peterotica" episode of Family Guy (2006), SpongeBob SquarePants (2007), and The Big Bang Theory (2009).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song was featured in The Amazing Race 28, when teams travelled to Armenia and had to search the Yerevan Opera Theater for their next clue.

Video games

Video games in which "Sabre Dance" was used include:

• Road Runner (the 1985 Atari System 1 arcade version).
• Sleeping Dogs on the classical Boosey and Hawkes radio station.
• Final Fantasy IV, as background music for the dancing girls' routines.
• Aero the Acro-Bat, as the music in the very first stage (Sega Genesis version), or possibly the 'invulnerability' theme in other versions.
• StepManiaX, as a remixed version of it by MonstDeath.
• Team Fortress 2, as the Heavy can be heard singing a part of it occasionally.
• Dota 2, whenever the character Ringmaster uses one of his abilities.

Use in sports

The National Hockey League (NHL)'s Buffalo Sabres have used the piece as a theme song since the team was established in 1970.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After a hiatus, "Sabre Dance" was again made their theme song in 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2010–2013, "Sabre Dance" was played at Donbas Arena, the venue of the Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk, whenever the Armenian football player Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a goal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

"Sabre Dance" was featured in the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony held in Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia on February 7.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Figure skating

"Sabre Dance" has been used by numerous figure skaters, including:

Season(s)	Skaters	Country	Competition	Template:Tooltip
1981–82	Natalia Bestemianova Andrei Bukin	Template:Flag	1982 World Figure Skating Championships: free skating	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	Suzanne Semanick Scott Gregory	Template:Flag	U.S. Championship	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1986–88	Debi Thomas	Template:Flagu		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1994	Scott Hamilton	Template:Flagu	1994 World Professional Figure Skating Championships	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1994	Michelle Kwan	Template:Flagu	1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships: short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Johnny Weir	Template:Flagu	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999–00	Evgeni Plushenko	Template:Flag	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001–02	Stanislav Morozov Aliona Savchenko	Template:Flag	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001–02	Takahiko Kozuka	Template:Flag	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004–05	Stanislav Morozov Tatiana Volosozhar	Template:Flagu	free skating	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004–05	Daisuke Takahashi	Template:Flagu	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>
2005–06	Takahito Mura	Template:Flagu	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006–07	Maximin Coia Adeline Canac	Template:Flag	free skating	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2007	Ryuju Hino	Template:Flagu	Skate Asia 2007: short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2012–13	Yulia Lipnitskaya	Template:Flagu	short program	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>
2014			2014 European Figure Skating Championships exhibition	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

Notes

Citations