Almicare Ponchielle (Pon-chee-EL-ee) was an Italian organist and composer who lived in Italy during Verdi's lifetime. Both men composed operas but Ponchielli has only one that has survived in the modern opera repertoire. Verdi has twenty-eight operas that are still performed.

The Dance of the Hours  is a classic ballet which was written for Ponchielli's opera, La Gioconda. Ballets are pantomimes which tell a story with music and dance. Many operas include ballets that add spectacular costumes and dancing to the drama.

The opera takes place in Venice. La Gioconda is a beautiful street singer. A spy named Barnaba loves her, but she loves Enzo, a nobleman. However, Enzo loves Laura who is already married to someone else. Doesn't that sound like a modern-day soap opera?

In Act III of the opera, the great hall of the palace is filled with guests. The evening entertainment is a ballet in which the dancers are costumed as the Hours of Dawn, Day, Evening, and Night. They portray the struggle between day and night. In the finale the hours of light conquer the hours of darkness. You can see why the music is called Dance of the Hours.

You may have heard a funny camp song written to the Dance of the Hours  music. However, most people don't know the name of the composer who wrote the music.

Hopefuly after you've sung the theme a few times with lyrics, you will remember Ponchielli's name. You might even start calling corn chips "Ponchielli Chips"!