The Inventor of New Music
Igor
Stravinsky
When?
June 17 1882
April 6 1971, age 88
Where?
Oranienbaum, Russia
Stravinsky was a
Modern
composer.
Stravinksy’s ballet The Rite of Spring was filled with such strange music, it shocked the audience, causing them to scream and stomp around the theatre!
In his music, Stravinsky used short patterns that repeat and connect, like building with musical LEGO blocks.
Stravinsky is famous for telling stories in his ballets, using all the colors of the orchestra.
Instead of writing a melody and developing it like Brahms did, Stravinsky wrote in small, musical chunks—repeated figures—that created musical fragments.
Stravinsky was a revolutionary because his music is the opposite of music that came before him. He used short melodic motives, harmonies that are rough on the ears and rhythms that are irregular and constantly change. But it all added up to something very exciting to hear!
Fun Facts
Both Maestros
Nice One, Gramps!
Stravinsky had an incredibly long musical career. His last major work, Requiem Canticles was written when he was in his mid-80s!
Both Maestros
One, Two, Three, What?
During the first performance of The Rite of Spring, the audience was so angry and screaming so loud, the dancers couldn’t hear the music. The choreographer Nijinsky had to stand backstage and shout, “one, two, three, four!” to keep the dancers together.
Both Maestros
Stop, Thief!
On using another composer’s material, Stravinsky said, “A good composer does not imitate, he steals!”
