The allure of folklore and folktales has inspired artists, choreographers, composers, dramatists, musicians, poets and writers throughout time. One popular folkloric character, the fairy, may be traced to medieval times, often describing mortal women who have gained magical powers. Katharine Briggs in her book An Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures notes that the term fairy originally expressed "one species of those supernatural creatures of a middle nature between man and angels...varying in size, in powers, in span of life and in moral attributes, but sharply differing from other species such as hobgoblins, monsters, hags, merpeople and so on." The usage of the word has expanded "to cover that whole area of the supernatural which is not claimed by angels, devils or ghosts." As time passed, the fairy anecdotes and beliefs which began in Europe spread throughout the world. America's own Walt Disney has capitalized and profited immensely from the retelling of these stories and traditions. We not only enjoy the readings of these familiar tales but are mesmerized by their power to captivate us. Many composers have rendered musical portrayals of these mythologic creatures.
Here is a small sampling of musical works that have allusions or characterizations of fairies:
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Symphony #6
Humperdinck, Engelbert. Hansel und Gretel
Janacek, Leos. Podhadka "Fairy Tale"
Mendelssohn, Felix. A Midsummer Night's Dream
Prokofiev, Sergei. Cinderella
Purcell, Henry. Fairy Queen
Rossini, Gioacchino. La Cenerentola
Stravinsky, Igor. La Baiser de la Fee
Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilich. The Nutcracker
As Shakespeare's Titania says in A Midsummer Night's Dream, 5.1.399-400, regarding the bridal chamber of Theseus and Hippolyta:
"Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place."
