What do you think of Saint Saen's Danse Macabre?

Answer 1

A pleasant piece Not as riveting as, for instance, Holst's "Mars" or Vaughan Williams' 6th symphony.

Answer 2

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Danse Macabre, Symphonic Poem op.40 (1874)
Midnight. Graves open up, white skeletons start to dance a ghastly waltz, until a c.o.c.k sings it off. It was an already exploited theme (Liszt). S.S.'s treatment is outstanding: dance imitation by xylophone and string pizzicato, a very lively rhythm and atmosphere (7 minutes duration).
(Giacomo Manzoni, Guida all'ascolto della musica sinfonica, Milan, 1967).
S.S.'s symphonic poems are next to the ouverture form, thus resulting much more homogeneous and brilliant than the Berlioz and Liszt model.
(Giulio Confalonieri, Storia della Musica, Milan, 1968).
The best fame came to S.S. from being considered in the first half of last century the french Brahms.
(Friedrich Blume, Epochen der Musikgeschichte in Einzeldarstellungen, Kassel, 1974).

Sources for the thumb-down pranksters.

Personally, I prefer the Addams Family theme.

Answer 3

It's a snorer -- Mussorgsky's effort was better (Night on Bald Mountain) or Berlioz Witch's Sabbath from Symphonie Fantastique

Just my humble opinion

Answer 4

As a composition? I personally like it. It has certain drive. It is not very complex though, would be fun with an orhcestra or a smaller enseble, not necessarily the piano.

Answer 5

I played it in orchestra. It's lots of fun, and some of the themes have been used as background for scary scenes. It is considered "light classical".

Answer 6

It's pretty good. Not some of his best work, but it ranks up there in his better work.

Answer 7

excellent!