Describe the music of ONE of the prescribed dance works you studied this year (listed above) - NSC Dance Studies - Question 8 - 2017 - Paper 1

The music for Ghost Dances was composed by Inti-Illimani, a traditional Chilean folk music group.

The style of the music is traditional Chilean folk music, which incorporates various South American instruments and rhythms.

The music enhances Ghost Dances in several ways:

• Atmospheric Influence: The wind sounds in the beginning create an eerie atmosphere, symbolizing the setting in the cave. This sets a reflective tone for the audience.

• Folkloric Elements: The use of traditional South American instruments enriches the dance movements, emphasizing the cultural narrative embedded in the choreography. The folk rhythms complement the dancers’ expressions, allowing the story of the oppressed people to manifest.

• Emotional Resonance: The songs convey the suffering and haunting feelings associated with loss, especially portrayed through the character of a woman in a red dress. This sorrow is further illustrated as the dance movements encapsulate the despair faced by the individuals in the narrative.

• Dramatic Contrasts: At moments of significant emotional weight, such as the theme of death, there is a deliberate silence in the music which enhances the dramatic impact, causing the audience to reflect on the gravity of the situation depicted.

Overall, the music works in harmony with the choreography to create an evocative piece that resonates deeply with themes of loss and remembrance.