Stravinsky
Into the 20th century with StravinskyIgor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, a Russian-American composer, was one of the mosst innovative composers of the 20th century. He led the way for other composers allowing them to break free from the traditional orchestral pieces and to follow their own path. He was composing in a time where impressionist art was being replaced with a new group of artists called Les Fauves (the wild beasts). Their distortions of raw, vivid color was violent and intense. This reformation was also apparent in Stravinsky's works as he led music back to the objectivism of the Classical period, from the subjectivism of the Romantic period which had a hold on the more recent compositions. He was composing in a time of political upheavel which also had great influences on his work. The difficult social and economic conditions that came along with the outbreak of World War I made it difficult to secure performances for large-scale works. This is the time period where he began composing a few smaller works such as The Soldiers Tale (1918). The disillusion of the war years can be seen in his work as well as the works of many other composers of the time. As a child he discovered an intuitive joy in music, and wit
Petrushka and the Rite of Spring are two ballets from Stravinsky's early career as a composer. Stravinsky has added much to the musical world, such as changing metrical patterns and ostinato as well as evolving polychords,polyrhythms, polymeters, and poly tonality. Flexible tempos, constant change of meter and beat are apparent in both, weak in some areas, prominent in others. Sharp staccato precision is also used in each piece. It is influenced by Debussy's impressionism; however, there remains vast difference between the soft, misty chords and Stravinsky's abrupt changes. Nothing about either work is constant. The solidity of the piece lies in the story. Petrushka evokes a feeling of gaeity and is more consonant, while The Rite of Spring is harshly dissonant evoking feelings of confusion and violence. During Stravinsky's association with Diaghilev, he wrote some of his most notable ballets. The music of Petrushka has a sharp, staccato precision about it. The characters of Petrushka involve the audience, who is taken aback with pity about Petrushka's hopeless love for the ballerina and his jealousy of the blackamoor whom she prefers. The ballet is a presentation of primitive scenes built around the Spring fertility Rites of ancient Russia. As said before, both fully employ the use of polyrhythms, polyharmony, polychords, and polymeters to create the unique sound. As he became more experienced he developed a style very distinct in which his music departed from the predictable lines and harmonies of the 19th century.
Common topics in this essay:
Rite Spring,
Ballet Russes,
Sacrifice Sage,
Les Fauves,
Stravinsky Russian-American,
Nikolay Rimsy-Korsakov,
Soldiers Tale,
Pagan Russia,
Petrushka Stravinsky,
Adoration Earth,
rite spring,
20th century,
20th century stravinsky,
polyrhythms polyharmony,
sharp staccato,
career composer,
music petrushka,
music stravinsky,
sacred mound,
sharp staccato precision,
ballet russes,
earth's fertility,
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Acceptance Essays
