Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker,' the story of a young girl's journey to a magical land on Christmas Eve, is perhaps not only the composer's most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. 'The Nutcracker' is often performed during the Christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. If you've never seen this ballet, or you need a refresher on the story, we've provided a synopsis for you below.

• Pyotr Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Ballet
• Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite
• Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Complete Ballet
• Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
• Nutcracker Ballet Music Tchaikovsky
• Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Ballet Suite
• Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker (ballet), Op.71 (Tchaikovsky, Pyotr) Movements/Sections Mov'ts/Sec's: 2 acts, 3 scenes Composition Year 1892 Genre Categories.

Act I

The Stahlbaums are preparing for their annual Christmas Eve party. The house is decorated with ornaments, wreaths, stockings, mistletoe, and, in the center of it all, a majestic Christmas tree. The Stahlbaum children, Fritz and Clara, wait anxiously for their family and friends to arrive.

1. Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker,' the story of a young girl's journey to a magical land on Christmas Eve, is perhaps not only the composer's most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time.' The Nutcracker' is often performed during the Christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance.
2. The Nutcracker, ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in December 1892. The Nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King.

As the guests begin to appear, the party gathers steam, with much dancing and celebratory laughter. Soon, a mysterious guest arrives. Dressed in dark clothing, he frightens Fritz, but not Clara, who knows that he is Godfather Drosselmeyer, the toymaker. His surprise arrival is warmly accepted, and all the children dance and carry on with laughter.

The celebration is interrupted again when Drosselmeyer reveals to the children that he has brought them gifts. The girls receive beautiful china dolls and the boys receive bugles. Fritz is given a beautiful drum, but Clara is given the best gift of all, a nutcracker. Fritz grows jealous, snatches the nutcracker from Clara, and plays a game of toss with the other boys.

It isn't long until the nutcracker breaks. Clara is upset, but Drosselmeyer fixes it with a handkerchief. Drosselmeyer’s nephew presents Clara with a small makeshift bed that he puts under the Christmas tree for her injured toy.

The party grows late and the children become sleepy. Everyone generously thanks the Stahlbaums before they leave. As Clara’s family retires to bed, she checks on her nutcracker one last time and ends up falling asleep under the Christmas tree with him in her arms.

At the stroke of midnight, Clara wakes up to a frightening scene. The house, the tree, and the toys seem to be getting larger. Is she shrinking? Out of nowhere, large mice dressed in army uniforms, led by their Mouse King, begin to circle the room while the toys and Christmas tree come to life. Clara’s nutcracker has also come to life. He groups the soldier toys into battle formation and fights the mouse army.

The Mouse King traps the Nutcracker in the corner, but the Nutcracker can’t overcome the Mouse King’s strength. Clara makes a desperate move to save her Nutcracker from defeat and throws her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him directly on the head. The Nutcracker is able to overcome the stunned Mouse King and claims victory. The mice army quickly carries away their king.

Clara falls onto what had been the toy nutcracker’s bed, overwhelmed by the moment. As angels and delightful music hover over their heads, the bed turns into a magical sleigh, floating higher and higher. The Nutcracker is transformed into a human prince (who looks strikingly similar to Drosselmeyer’s nephew). He climbs aboard Clara’s sleigh and drives them through a snowy forest, where the snowflakes turn into dancing maidens.

Act II

After their journey through the snow forest, Clara and her prince arrive at their destination in the Land of Sweets. Clara can’t believe her eyes: There are ladyfinger mountains topped with whipped cream whiter than snow, sweetly glazed flowers, and buttercream frosting everywhere she looks. Upon their arrival, the duo is greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. As they reenact the night’s events, the Sugar Plum Fairy expresses admiration for Clara’s bravery and the Nutcracker’s heroism. In their honor, the Sugar Plum Fairy takes them inside the Candy Castle and throws a lavish festival. They are treated like royalty and presented with every imaginable sweet.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Ballet

Shortly thereafter, the dancing begins. Hot coco dances to the lively music of trumpets and castañets of the Spanish fandango. The women of coffee dance in veils and move their bodies like rising steam to an Arabian song while Mandarin tea dances to an exotic Asian flute chorus. Russian dolls follow the Mandarin tea, leaping and dancing to an invigorating dance known as a Trepak.

To Clara’s delight, there is still more to be seen. A giant gingerbread house, known as Mother Ginger, dances onto the Sugar Plum Fairy’s court. She opens her skirt and eight little gingerbread children come dancing out circling around her. After the dance is over, the children quickly file back into the large gingerbread house and Mother Ginger leaves the room. Soon after Mother Ginger exits, the dancing flowers enter to the tune of the harp. Clara thinks it is perhaps the most beautiful waltz she has ever heard, and she and the Nutcracker Prince watch with amazement. The flowers dance in beautiful mesmerizing patterns as a single Dewdrop floats above them.

Silence quickly follows the end of their dance. Clara doesn’t know what to expect next. A handsome Cavalier enters the scene and escorts the Sugar Plum Fairy to the center of the room. They dance to the most recognizable song in the entire work. The captivating pair dance lighter than air. This beautiful dance completes Clara’s most perfect evening.

The festival concludes when everyone comes together on the court and bids Clara and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. She tells the Nutcracker she wishes the adventure would never end and he tells her it won’t for those who have an eye to see it. Clara wakes up the next morning under the Christmas tree with her toy nutcracker still in her arms. Was it all just a dream? Or was it the magic of Christmas, come to life?

Performances

Sheet Music

Scores

Complete

Complete Score
*#515595 - 22.81MB, 512 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 969×⇩ - Music Addict

⇒ 16 more: Title Page, Contents, Instrumentation, and Overture • Act I, No.1. The Christmas Tree • Act I, No.2. March • Act I, No.3. Children's Galop and Entrance of the Parents • Act I, No.4. Dance Scene • Act I, No.5. Scene and Dance (Grandfather) • Act I, No.6. Scene • Act I, No.7. Scene • Act I, No.8. Scene • Act I, No.9. Waltz of the Snowflakes • Act II, No.10. Scene • Act II, No.11. Scene • Act II, No.12. Divertissement • Act II, No.13. Waltz of the Flowers • Act II, No.14. Pas de Deux, Variations, and Coda • Act II, No.15. Waltz Finale and Apotheosis

Title Page, Contents, Instrumentation, and Overture
*#03432 - 0.91MB, 24 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 30314×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.1. The Christmas Tree
*#03434 - 1.03MB, 24 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 20666×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.2. March
*#03433 - 0.92MB, 24 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 19264×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.3. Children's Galop and Entrance of the Parents
*#03465 - 0.80MB, 18 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 12606×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.4. Dance Scene
*#03466 - 1.14MB, 25 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 15682×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.5. Scene and Dance (Grandfather)
*#03563 - 1.04MB, 23 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 12281×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.6. Scene
*#03564 - 1.52MB, 33 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 13648×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.7. Scene
*#03565 - 1.29MB, 28 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 13042×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.8. Scene
*#03566 - 0.96MB, 21 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 13848×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act I, No.9. Waltz of the Snowflakes
*#03567 - 2.57MB, 50 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 23904×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act II, No.10. Scene
*#03568 - 1.47MB, 27 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 14375×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act II, No.11. Scene
*#03569 - 1.27MB, 28 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 12600×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act II, No.12. Divertissement
*#03570 - 2.83MB, 63 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 21220×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act II, No.13. Waltz of the Flowers
*#03571 - 1.38MB, 33 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 25761×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act II, No.14. Pas de Deux, Variations, and Coda
*#03572 - 2.30MB, 57 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 31482×⇩ - Nerd011235

Act II, No.15. Waltz Finale and Apotheosis
*#03573 - 1.95MB, 40 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 14999×⇩ - Nerd011235

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite

Complete Score
*#440279 - 32.03MB, 666 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V*/V*/V*- 1358×⇩ - Sallen112

Selections

13. Valse des fleurs
*#321426 - 4.50MB, 36 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 2854×⇩ - Emblyadell

Parts

Complete

Flute 1, 2/Piccolo, 3/Piccolo
*#38395 - 9.03MB, 141 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 22714×⇩ - Ottaviano

⇒ 19 more: Oboe 1, 2 • English Horn • Clarinet 1, 2 (B♭, A) • Bass Clarinet (B♭) • Bassoon 1, 2 • Horn 1, 2 (F) • Horn 3, 4 (F) • Trumpet 1, 2 (A, B♭) • Trombone 1, 2, 3, Tuba • Timpani • Percussion 1 (Cymbals/Bass Drum/Tam-Tam) / Percussion 2 (Triangle/Tambourine/Castanets/Rattle), Toy Trumpet • Celesta • Harp 1 • Harp 2 • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos • Basses

Oboe 1, 2
*#38396 - 4.52MB, 79 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 10384×⇩ - Ottaviano

English Horn
*#38397 - 1.87MB, 32 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 6947×⇩ - Ottaviano

Clarinet 1, 2 (B♭, A)
*#38398 - 6.43MB, 104 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 15150×⇩ - Ottaviano

Bass Clarinet (B♭)
*#38399 - 1.89MB, 32 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 8720×⇩ - Ottaviano

Bassoon 1, 2
*#38400 - 5.57MB, 98 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 9031×⇩ - Ottaviano

Horn 1, 2 (F)
*#38401 - 4.00MB, 78 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 9508×⇩ - Ottaviano

Horn 3, 4 (F)
*#38402 - 3.80MB, 70 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 6721×⇩ - Ottaviano

Trumpet 1, 2 (A, B♭)
*#38403 - 2.64MB, 46 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 12276×⇩ - Ottaviano

Trombone 1, 2, 3, Tuba
*#38404 - 4.93MB, 97 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 10345×⇩ - Ottaviano

Timpani
*#38405 - 1.09MB, 21 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 6835×⇩ - Ottaviano

Percussion 1 (Cymbals/Bass Drum/Tam-Tam)
Percussion 2 (Triangle/Tambourine/Castanets/Rattle), Toy Trumpet
*#38406 - 1.59MB, 31 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 10675×⇩ - Ottaviano

Celesta
*#38407 - 0.94MB, 16 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 9160×⇩ - Ottaviano

Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Complete Ballet

Harp 1
*#38408 - 2.57MB, 38 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 8454×⇩ - Ottaviano

Harp 2
*#38409 - 1.77MB, 28 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 5754×⇩ - Ottaviano

Violins I
*#38410 - 4.51MB, 72 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 24204×⇩ - Ottaviano

Violins II
*#38411 - 4.05MB, 68 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 11046×⇩ - Ottaviano

Violas
*#38412 - 3.70MB, 65 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 10374×⇩ - Ottaviano

Cellos
*#26962 - 3.31MB, 59 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 11801×⇩ - Generoso

Basses
*#38413 - 2.67MB, 52 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 7696×⇩ - Ottaviano

Violas
*#21720 - 2.98MB, 49 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 3101×⇩ - Hrdinský

Glockenspiel
*#346375 - 0.12MB, 6 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 2197×⇩ - FinaleMan802

Harp 1 and 2 combined
*#348465 - 2.38MB, 55 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 2225×⇩ - OboeRamaMusic

Harp 2 (No.14 only)
*#248882 - 0.22MB, 7 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 847×⇩ - OboeRamaMusic

Waltz of the Snowflakes (Act I, No.9)

Clarinet (B♭) (transposed)
*#245514 - 0.12MB, 4 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 2136×⇩ - MikBlom

Glockenspiel
*#306134 - 0.08MB, 2 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 1154×⇩ - Drumzmarimba

Treble Chorus
*#446828 - 0.04MB, 1 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 986×⇩ - Stthomassv

Children's Chorus Score
*#581643 - 0.05MB, 2 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 64×⇩ - Wadams

Arrangements and Transcriptions

Complete

For Piano

Overture
*#30067 - 8.36MB, 10 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V*/V*/V*- 13211×⇩ - Brittany

Act 1
*#30068 - 74.29MB, 72 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V*/V*/V*- 16264×⇩ - Brittany

Act 2
*#30069 - 73.95MB, 70 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V*/V*/V*- 16924×⇩ - Brittany

For Piano (Taneyev)

Complete Score
*#30803 - 11.97MB, 171 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 22929×⇩ - Carolus

Complete Score
*#369135 - 22.45MB, 171 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/V- 1442×⇩ - IgorCello

Selections

For 2 Pianos (Hesselberg)

12c. Danse chinoise (EU)
*#584993 - 0.50MB, 8 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/27/V- 86×⇩ - Pianoman121

12e. Danse des Mirlitons (EU)
*#439430 - 0.92MB, 10 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/27/V- 2947×⇩ - Zeyarshwe

For Organ (Custard)

2. Marche
*#75934 - 0.25MB, 6 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/27- 3482×⇩ - BKhon

12e. Danse des Mirlitons
*#76060 - 0.23MB, 5 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - V/V/27- 3586×⇩ - KGill

Valse des flocons de neige (Act I, No.9)

For Mixed Chorus and Wind Band (Saganski)

Complete Score
*#469105 - 1.40MB, 32 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 628×⇩ - Pg.saganski

Danse des Mirlitons (Act II, No.12e)

For 2 Flutes, 2 Clarinets, Guitar, 3 Violins and 3 Cellos (Puca)

Complete Score and Parts
*#493614 - 0.45MB, 25 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 660×⇩ - Ivan Gabriele P...

PDF typeset by arranger
Ivan Gabriele P... (2017/9/19)

La mère Gigogne et les polichinelles (Act II, No.12f)

For Wind Band (Saganski)

Complete Score
*#411725 - 0.66MB, 12 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 1008×⇩ - Pg.saganski

Pas de deux: Coda. Vivace assai (Act II, No.14)

For Wind Band (Niikura)

Complete Score
*#528556 - 0.27MB, 10 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 405×⇩ - Miya

⇒ 5 more: Piccolo 1/2, Flute 1/2, Oboe • Clarinet 1/2/3, Bass Clarinet (B♭) • Soprano Saxophone (B♭), Alto Saxophone (E♭), Tenor Saxophone(B♭), / Baritone Saxophone(E♭), Bass Saxophone(B♭) • Horn 1/2/3/4 (F) • Timpani, Cymbal, Bass Drum

Piccolo 1/2, Flute 1/2, Oboe
*#528557 - 0.12MB, 5 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 57×⇩ - Miya

Clarinet 1/2/3, Bass Clarinet (B♭)
*#528558 - 0.10MB, 4 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 56×⇩ - Miya

Soprano Saxophone (B♭), Alto Saxophone (E♭), Tenor Saxophone(B♭),
Baritone Saxophone(E♭), Bass Saxophone(B♭)
*#528559 - 0.12MB, 6 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 41×⇩ - Miya

Horn 1/2/3/4 (F)
*#528560 - 0.08MB, 4 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 36×⇩ - Miya

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy

Timpani, Cymbal, Bass Drum
*#528561 - 0.05MB, 3 pp. - 0.0/10 (-) - !N/!N/!N- 36×⇩ - Miya

Nutcracker Ballet Music Tchaikovsky

General Information

Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Ballet Suite

Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker