Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky was a Russian-born composer who is regarded as one of the most important and the most influential composers of the twentieth century. His works transformed the music of the modern era.

Early Life and Education

Stravinsky was born in Oranienbaum near Saint Petersburg in 1882. His father was a bass singer at the Mariinsky Theatre.

He studied law at the University of Saint Petersburg and took the music lessons from Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. He decided to devote himself to the composition.

He was influenced by the Russian folk music and by the nationalist school of the composers. He married his cousin Catherine Nosenko in 1906.

The Ballets Russes

Stravinsky came to the attention of the impresario Sergei Diaghilev, who commissioned the music for the Ballets Russes. The Firebird was produced in Paris in 1910.

Petrushka was produced in 1911 and The Rite of Spring in 1913. The Rite of Spring caused a riot at its premiere because of the dissonance and the violent rhythms.

The three ballets established his reputation as a revolutionary composer. The works drew on the Russian folk material and transformed it with the irregular rhythms.

He collaborated with the choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky and the designer Nicholas Roerich. The partnership produced the most celebrated works of the Ballets Russes.

The Style and the Periods

Stravinsky's style passed through several periods. The Russian period was followed by the neoclassical period, in which he drew on the forms of the eighteenth-century music.

The works of the neoclassical period include the Pulcinella and the Symphony of Psalms. The music combines the old forms with the modern harmony.

He later adopted the twelve-tone technique of Arnold Schoenberg. The works of the serial period include the Agon and the Requiem Canticles.

He explored the rhythmic innovation throughout his career. The use of the changing metre and of the ostinato is a characteristic of his music.

The Later Years and the Legacy

Stravinsky emigrated to the United States in 1939 and settled in Los Angeles. He became an American citizen in 1945.

He continued to compose and to conduct throughout his life. He received many honours, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal.

He died in 1971 in New York and was buried in Venice. He is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the modern age.

His work influenced a wide range of the composers and the musicians. The Rite of Spring remains one of the most performed and the most admired works of the orchestral repertoire.

The Russian Period

Stravinsky composed the ballets for the Ballets Russes. The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring are the masterpieces of the Russian period.

The works draw on the Russian folk material and transform it with the irregular rhythms. The Rite of Spring caused a riot at its premiere in 1913.

He also composed the choral and the chamber works of the period. The works include the Renard and the Les Noces.

The Neoclassical Period

Stravinsky turned to the forms of the eighteenth-century music in the neoclassical period. The works include the Pulcinella and the Symphony of Psalms.

The music combines the old forms with the modern harmony. The works are the models of the neoclassical style.

He adopted the twelve-tone technique of Schoenberg later in the career. The works of the serial period include the Agon and the Requiem Canticles.

The Honours and the Memory

Stravinsky received the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal and the Grammy Awards. He was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The Stravinsky Fountain in Paris commemorates his work. The fountain contains the sculptures inspired by his compositions.

He is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century. His works are performed throughout the world and The Rite of Spring remains one of the most admired of the orchestral works.

The Collaboration and the Influence

Stravinsky collaborated with the impresario Sergei Diaghilev and the choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky. The partnership produced the most celebrated works of the Ballets Russes.

He influenced a wide range of the composers and the musicians. The rhythmic innovation and the use of the changing metre became a model for the modern music.

He was a friend of the composers and the writers of the period. He was photographed and painted by the leading artists of his time.

The Personal Life

Stravinsky married his cousin Catherine Nosenko in 1906. The couple had four children and the marriage lasted until her death in 1939.

He emigrated to the United States in 1939 and settled in Los Angeles. He became an American citizen in 1945.

He married Vera de Bosset in 1940. She was his companion and the manager of his affairs until his death.

See also

• The Rite of Spring
• Ballets Russes
• Neoclassicism
• Modernism