Ballet and Modern Dance Music

The partnership between music and dance, and between composer and choreographer, is an ancient one: frequently the movement and mood of the dance has followed the rhythms and mood of the music. In the 20th century, this relationship has sometimes been turned on its head (so the music is a response to the dance), and sometimes completely severed. From Igor Stravinsky to John Cage, writing for ballet and modern dance has been a way of drawing attention to difficult, experimental music...