Estancia, op. 8: Ballet

Estancia (Op. 8) is the second ballet composed by Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera premiered in 1952 commissioned by American writer Lincoln Kirstein. Ginastera took inspiration for the ballet's plot from the epic Martin Fierro by Argentine writer José Hernández, incorporating the nationalist themes and language into his musical score. The ballet was created the same year the composer had made his acquaintance with American composer Aaron Copland. The ballet began its life as a four-part orchestral suite in 1941 before being turned in a one-act ballet. The ballet form is approximately one-half hour in length and tells the story of the love between a boy living in the city and the daughter of a rancher. The girl finds the boy lacking in courage when compared to the gauchos. However, by the end of the ballet, he wins her over by outdancing the gauchos in a competition.