Composed in 1935 by Sergei Prokofiev as ballet music and while he initially wanted to change the end of "Romeo and Juliet" Shakespearian love story to an unconventional happy one, the composer finally decided this would be too daring, also following the ballet's refusal to choreograph a happy ending story. The whole piece "Romeo and Juliet" containing 3 movements, the second movement "Montagues and Capulets" (or "Dance of the Knights") is the most recognised and probably Prokofiev's most famous work.
The “Dance of the Knights” accompanies the knights of the noble families dancing at the Capulet’s ball. The music expresses in a powerful way the tumultuous relationship of the two families, the tension and the dramatic atmosphere that exists in the story following the encounter of Romeo and Juliet. The extreme dynamics of the music give you the feeling of violence and upcoming death.