Igor Stravinsky
“I am in the present. I can not know what tomorrow will bring forth. I can know only what the truth is for me today. That is what I am called upon to serve and I serve it in all lucidity.” –Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (June 17/5, 1882 – April 6, 1971) lived by this mantra. As a 20th Century composer, pianist, and conductor, music was his truth. Time magazine even named him as one of the 100 most influential people of the century. Music and its livelihood were the fiber of his life and he continued to serve his art through his own personal trials, triumphs, and tribulations until his own very end.
Talent surrounded Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky from the beginning but his enthusiasm and support did not. Born in Oranienbaum (later renamed Lomonosov in 1948) Russia and raised in Saint Petersburg, to an operatic bass singer, Fyodor Stravinsky. Igor was one of four children born to Fyodor and Anna Kholodovsky-Stravinsky. Igor had three brothers two were older than he Roman and Yuriy, and one younger Guriy. Roman died when Igor was fifteen years old. This was a huge tragedy for his whole family. Anna his mother loved to play the piano and sing too. Yuriy one of his elder brothers married Yelena Nikslyevna. Igor and Yuriy both struggled through their lifetimes with lung ailments including tuberculosis. Igor struggled with tuberculosis for 6 years of treatment. Guriy was the youngest brother and died in 1917 from typhus. One would believe that when the singer’s son showed an interest in music that his father would give him all his support and guidance but that was not the case. In fact, young Igor Stravinsky was quoted in his autobiography stating that his childhood was troubled: “I never came across anyone who had any real affection for me.” (Igor Stravinsky, “An Autobiography” (1936)
Despite the lack of support, Igor began to study music in the form of piano lessons. In 1890, along with meeting his cousin and future wife Katerina
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (June 17/5, 1882 – April 6, 1971) lived by this mantra. As a 20th Century composer, pianist, and conductor, music was his truth. Time magazine even named him as one of the 100 most influential people of the century. Music and its livelihood were the fiber of his life and he continued to serve his art through his own personal trials, triumphs, and tribulations until his own very end.
Talent surrounded Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky from the beginning but his enthusiasm and support did not. Born in Oranienbaum (later renamed Lomonosov in 1948) Russia and raised in Saint Petersburg, to an operatic bass singer, Fyodor Stravinsky. Igor was one of four children born to Fyodor and Anna Kholodovsky-Stravinsky. Igor had three brothers two were older than he Roman and Yuriy, and one younger Guriy. Roman died when Igor was fifteen years old. This was a huge tragedy for his whole family. Anna his mother loved to play the piano and sing too. Yuriy one of his elder brothers married Yelena Nikslyevna. Igor and Yuriy both struggled through their lifetimes with lung ailments including tuberculosis. Igor struggled with tuberculosis for 6 years of treatment. Guriy was the youngest brother and died in 1917 from typhus. One would believe that when the singer’s son showed an interest in music that his father would give him all his support and guidance but that was not the case. In fact, young Igor Stravinsky was quoted in his autobiography stating that his childhood was troubled: “I never came across anyone who had any real affection for me.” (Igor Stravinsky, “An Autobiography” (1936)
Despite the lack of support, Igor began to study music in the form of piano lessons. In 1890, along with meeting his cousin and future wife Katerina
Bibliography: Stravinsky, Igor. An Autobiography. G. Schirmer, Inc., 1936. www.answers.com. Igor Stravinsky. 07 October 2010. www.boosey.com. Igor Stravinsky Timeline. 07 October 2010. www.classical.net. Igor Stravinsky. 07 October 2010. www.essentialsofmusic.com. Igor Stravinsky. 07 October 2010. www.naxos.com. Igor Stravinsky. 07 October 2010. www.wikipedia.org. Igor Stravinsky. 07 October 2010.