The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas
The scenes of Mickey Mouse “The sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas deviously disobeying his master sorcerer’s wishes to pale water in buckets by hand, is etched into the minds of many children abroad. In many ways this clever adaptation to the film set attributes to the success and popularity of the piece. The score itself is much like that of what is to be found during the third movement of a typical symphony; the scherzo. Literally meaning ‘joke’ in Italian, the scherzo is light-hearted in step and often made of compounded rhythms to simulate a waltz or dance form. Appropriately this is where the cusp of the piece derives much of its remembrance, but it begins much more mysterious and dark in its opening passage through vibrating backdrops of violins, and haunting trills of woodwind. This scene is where the apprentice and sorcerer part for the night, before the sudden gasp of the full orchestra is hurled into action as the sorcerer leaves the space, thus allowing his shorter company to run amuck in the wee hours of the night. The apprentice and his stolen wand, quickly put to work magical hordes of broom sticks, complete with arms, legs and an uncanny attitude. The music is quickly molded through a sparse uncertain introduction eventually picking up speed as each new broom take a life of its own, under command of the over enthusiastic apprentice, instructing the army to pale the water that he was meant to. As mentioned earlier, this section itself is unforgettable, due to both its rhythmical stance but also a very well adapted encirclement of a quick run of notes to form the memorable bouncing melody that returns back on itself. The strings take most of the rhythms, while the woodwind and brass accent the secondary beats almost creating a sub-melody to suit....