Rocco D’Ambrosca: 09/10/2004
“Night on Bald Mountain” and “Ave Maria” represent both sides of the spectrum. NBM (“Night on Bald Mountain”) represents evil and darkness as AM (“Ave Maria”) portrays good and light. NBM serves to express Hell and suffering. The giant demon atop the mountain controls the little devils like puppets making them dance in the fires of Hell. The giant demon rules the night but, as dawn comes he is overtaken by the light and must release his prisoners and return to hibernation. At the early hours of the morning, a single file line of people carrying torches marches through the forest and into the darkness. But, they are given salvation with the sunrise. This gives them hope and reconciliation.
The giant demon of Bald Mountain can only rule the night. He is able to manipulate the poor dead souls of the town torturing them at his will. All of this darkness and evil is brought upon the spirits of this town because of their sins. These people are suffering for the crimes they committed during life. But all is not lost, with the coming of dawn they are released from the mountain to return back to town. They are now given the choice of salvation. Some follow this long path through the woods carrying their torch. Though their journey is long and will lead them into darkness, they will be led out into the light being freed and allowed into heaven.
The animation of Fantasia is wonderfully rendered and accompanies the music perfectly. With every note and change in tempo the animation follows along. At the beginning of NBM the giant demon rises up and moves his arms as if he is conducting the music. Then as the tempo picks up with a feverish pace the spirits begin to race up the mountain. Once they are atop the mountain, the music changes to a more taunting tone as the spirits, now devils, dance as puppets controlled by the giant demon. The music is then interrupted by the ringing of a church bell. This bell rings six times each time with a flash of light. This signals that the time is six am or dawn. The music now slows down and has a descending melody to accompany the descent of the spirits back down to town. The scene then shifts to the forest where the people march along with their torches. The music through the forest starts off very slow and soothing to show the peoples’ healing and reconciliation. Finally, the music very slowly builds to show their release into heaven.
There are many items of symbolism throughout NBM and AM. But, there are a few less obvious items that I believe show the true meaning of these pieces. In NBM the noose on the scaffold that the spirits pass through on their way up to the mountain, shows that they have committed a crime and will be punished just as the criminals who are hung on the scaffold for their crimes. The torches that the people carry through the forest represent each person’s penance that they must do to be forgiven. Once the people carry their torch long enough for it to go out, bringing them all out in the darkness, they have finished their penance. This darkness will not last long because there is a light at the end of this tunnel, leading to salvation and heaven.
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