Igor stravinsky's influence on modern music
Igor Stravinsky and His Influence on 20th Century Music
Igor Stravinsky has long been associated with ballet music, in particular with The Firebird, Petrouchka, and the Rite of spring, the trio of works that pushed and developed both dance and music into the modern age. His works also represent a sequence of works in which a thread of continuous growth can be observed. Even today his works have influenced many to take local music and singing lessons. It is on these three works that this paper will focus; firstly, by discussing the influences which affected Stravinsky in his formative years; secondly, by examining the foundations of his compositional technique; and finally, by an analysis of the innovations which Stravinsky introduced in his three early ballets. Stravinsky 's major musical influences during his formative years were the two Great Russian nationalistic composers Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. At that time period, Rimsky Korsakov was a member of “the five” also known as “the mighty handful”. He worked with Stravinsky on his first compositions in sonata allegro form and had particular influence on his orchestration. (Stravinsky, igor p. 24) His first Symphony in E flat shows the obvious trademarks of his master’s influence. On the other hand, Druskin (1979, p.30) suggests that the influence of Mussorgsky was also of major significance: "Mussorgsky gave him a glimpse of the ancient Russian way of life before Peter the Great, and, more particularly, its association with church ritual". The first performance of The Firebird, composed at the same time as Stravinsky was still under the influence of his teacher Rimsky-Korsakov. Interestingly enough, Stavinsky’s Firebird and Rimsky-Korsakov 's ballet Le Coq d 'Or share great similarities. Firstly, both compositions are based on Russian fairy tales and both deal with the conflict between good and evil. Secondly, he points out Stravinsky 's adoption of Rimsky-Korsakov 's technique of employing
Igor Stravinsky has long been associated with ballet music, in particular with The Firebird, Petrouchka, and the Rite of spring, the trio of works that pushed and developed both dance and music into the modern age. His works also represent a sequence of works in which a thread of continuous growth can be observed. Even today his works have influenced many to take local music and singing lessons. It is on these three works that this paper will focus; firstly, by discussing the influences which affected Stravinsky in his formative years; secondly, by examining the foundations of his compositional technique; and finally, by an analysis of the innovations which Stravinsky introduced in his three early ballets. Stravinsky 's major musical influences during his formative years were the two Great Russian nationalistic composers Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. At that time period, Rimsky Korsakov was a member of “the five” also known as “the mighty handful”. He worked with Stravinsky on his first compositions in sonata allegro form and had particular influence on his orchestration. (Stravinsky, igor p. 24) His first Symphony in E flat shows the obvious trademarks of his master’s influence. On the other hand, Druskin (1979, p.30) suggests that the influence of Mussorgsky was also of major significance: "Mussorgsky gave him a glimpse of the ancient Russian way of life before Peter the Great, and, more particularly, its association with church ritual". The first performance of The Firebird, composed at the same time as Stravinsky was still under the influence of his teacher Rimsky-Korsakov. Interestingly enough, Stavinsky’s Firebird and Rimsky-Korsakov 's ballet Le Coq d 'Or share great similarities. Firstly, both compositions are based on Russian fairy tales and both deal with the conflict between good and evil. Secondly, he points out Stravinsky 's adoption of Rimsky-Korsakov 's technique of employing
Cited: Charles M. Joseph. “Stravinsky’s Ballets”, Yale University Press, 2011. Druskin, Mikhail 1979, "Igor Stravinsky: His Life, Works and Views", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Routh, Francis 1975, "Stravinsky", J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Spencer, Piers 1990. Stravinsky, Igor. Igor Stravinsky, An Auto Biography. New York: W.W. Norton Company Inc., 1962.