The aesthetic category of the comic in the musical characterization of characters (on the example of Yuri Shevchenko's ballet “Buratino and the Magic Violin”)

Abstract

The purpose of the article. To analyze the embodiment of the comic on the material of Yuri Shevchenko’s ballet “Buratino and the Magic Violin” through the analysis of musical and choreographic elements, as well as the peculiarities of their synthesis. Suggest a typology of ballet characters. Methodology. Methods of comparison and matching helped to determine the differences between comic and lyrical characters, as well as to identify the means of expression that created the appropriate comic image. Scientific novelty. For the first time in Ukrainian art history, an analysis of musical and choreographic elements was carried out to identify the comic component of the characters in Yuri Shevchenko’s ballet “Buratino and the Magic Violin”. The synthesis of musical and choreographic components of ballet is emphasized. A typology of ballet characters is proposed. Conclusions. The analysis allowed to divide the characters of Yuri Shevchenko’s ballet “Buratino and the Magic Violin” into comic, semi-comic, humorous, and lyrical. The means of expression (musical and choreographic) used to characterize the characters with an emphasis on the comic group were identified. In music, this is the leittimbre of the trombone mainly in low registers, “broken” intervals, as well as leitintervals (dissonances), tremolo trumpet, and glissando of copper and, most importantly, the characteristic rhythmic pattern with syncope. In choreography, it is the dominance of non-classical elements and movements, as well as specific, street techniques ― leitelements (falling, pushing, pulling, kicking).

Keywords: aesthetic category comic, choreographic elements, synthesis of elements, leittimbres, leitelements, leitintervals, comic, semi-comic, humorous, lyrical characters.