The Nutcracker pas de deux
Marius Petipa, Ballet Master at the Mariinsky Theatre, wanted music "colossal in effect" for the opening Andante maestoso movement. The music is made up of descending (falling) scales for cellos. A second, contrasting section is written for oboe and bass clarinet. The music ends with a great climax for trombones. The musical theme of the Andante maestoso is similar to Tchaikovsky's death themes in the Fifth and Sixth symphonies.