Stravinsky’s compositional career was notable for its stylistic diversity . He first achieved international fame with three ballets commissioned by the impresario Sergei Diaghilev and first performed in Paris by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes: The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911) and The Rite of Spring (1913).
How did Stravinsky influence music?
Stravinsky worked in the same way, in fact, throughout his life, and the same basic principles of construction and dynamics inform Threni and the Requiem Canticles as Petrushka and The Rite of Spring. He had immense influence on the way later composers have felt pulse, rhythm, and form .
Why was Stravinsky groundbreaking?
Was Stravinsky the 20th century’s greatest composer? Unquestionably. He wrote masterpieces in almost every genre and his ability to continually reinvent himself ensured that the music he composed in his 80s sounded as fresh as when he first unleashed The Rite Of Spring upon an unsuspecting musical world in 1913.
Why is The Rite of Spring so important?
The Rite of Spring was a revolutionary work for a revolutionary time . ... The Rite of Spring has survived many trials in its first 100 years, not excluding the notorious premiere, during which Nijinsky’s provocative choreography elicited such a volume of abuse that the music itself was frequently inaudible.
What is Stravinsky remembered for?
Igor Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882, in Oranienbaum, Russia. He rose to fame in the early 1900s for his compositions for the Ballets Russes, including the controversial The Rite of Spring . Stravinsky brought his family to Switzerland and then France, continuing his output with such works as Renard and Persephone.
What is the story behind the Rite of Spring?
The concept behind The Rite of Spring, developed by Roerich from Stravinsky’s outline idea, is suggested by its subtitle, “Pictures of Pagan Russia in Two Parts”; the scenario depicts various primitive rituals celebrating the advent of spring, after which a young girl is chosen as a sacrificial victim and dances ...
Who is the most important composer of the early 20th century?
Ellington was the most prolific composer of the century. A spectacular innovator, he wrote music for all kinds of settings, from the ballroom to the nightclub; the comedy stage to the movie house; the concert hall to the cathedral.
Who is the one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century?
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (17 June 1882–6 April 1971) was a Russian (and later, a naturalized French and American) composer, pianist and conductor. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century.
What became the norm for many twentieth century works?
Consonance was the norm, dissonance the temporary disturbance. In many twentieth-century works, however, tension became the norm. A dissonance could serve even as a final cadence, provided it was less dissonant than the chord that came before; in relation to the greater dissonance, it was judged to be consonant.
What style is The Rite of Spring?
Stravinsky described The Rite of Spring as “a musical-choreographic work ” — a series of episodes that tell a story through music and movement. In this performance, choreographer and director Kitty McNamee incorporates a variety of dance styles from across the globe, including contemporary dance and hip-hop.
What made The Rite of Spring so controversial?
Stravinsky used The Rite of Spring as a means to develop his unique voice in the classical music world. ... Historians believe that it was the choreography created by dancer Vaclav Nijinsky that provoked the majority of controversy rather than Stravinsky’s score.
What happened at the first performance of The Rite of Spring?
First performance
The audience were shocked at the primitive kind of dancing and the irregular rhythms and strange orchestral sounds and unusual chords . Nijinsky’s choreography was so different from classical ballet. Nijinsky found it difficult to work with Stravinsky and difficult to work with the music.
What era is Stravinsky?
Stravinsky’s professional life encompassed most of the 20th century , including many of its modern classical music styles, and he influenced composers both during and after his lifetime.
What were three of Igor Stravinsky’s most famous works?
- The Firebird. ...
- Petrushka. ...
- Apollo. ...
- Oedipus Rex. ...
- Symphony of Psalms. ...
- The Rake’s Progress. ...
- The Soldier’s Tale. ...
- Symphonies Of Wind Instruments.
What piece by Stravinsky provoked a riot?
Ivan Hewitt describes the ballet that caused a riot on its premiere in Paris in May 1913. The premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring is perhaps the most famous scandal in the history of the performing arts.
