Research Paper On Igor Stravinsky

Biography: Igor Stravinsky Learning Igor Stravinsky’s life was very inspiring in many ways. One of the most inspiring trait of Igor Stravinsky was his drive to become a composer. He had the mindset of becoming a composer although every aspect in his life went towards a different path. This composer had contributed new insights to classical music in his time. His work was highly praised by the people in the industry that it was influential to every aspiring music composers. He introduced many methods in composing classical music. Some of Stravinsky’s contributions were The Rite of Spring and Pulcinella. They were featured in whole series of operas, ballet and major choral that high number of audiences have seen. In his autobiography, he said
that “I never came across anyone who had a real attraction for me.
Igor Stravinsky’s early life was not the happiest phase of his life.
In his autobiography, he said that “I never came across anyone who had a real attraction for me(Gardner, 203). Stravinsky was born in Russia in 1882. He was the third son of four brothers. He was close to his brother, Gury, who supported his dreams to become a composer. Unfortunately, his brother died in World War I. This led to despair in Stravinsky’s life because his brother was his only hope to become a composer. Stravinsky’s father who was a lawyer, pushed him to become a lawyer instead of pursuing what he really wants. But his love and passion for music was undeniable that at some point, he quit pursuing to be a lawyer. When his father died in 1902, he decided to fully pursue his dream of becoming a great
composer.
Stravinsky’s music not only inspired his own country, but also greatly influenced the world. When he moved and settled in Paris, his music made an immediate impact. According to the journal article “Russian Review” by Stanley Dale Krebs, “He had already excited Western audiences with his ballets for Diaghilev, Firebird (1910) and Petrushka (1911), and he electrified them with the Rite of Spring (1913) (Krebs, 317). Stravinsky’s ability to influence people from the other side of the world who have totally different culture was possible because he was the type of composer who knows how to adopt to change. In addition to being able to adapt to change, he also continuously innovate to produce pieces from his creative imagination. From another volume of “The Russian Review” by Leonid Sabaneef, it was stated that “His technique as a composer, and particularly his orchestral mastery and imagination exceeded anything that existed in Russian musical literature in those years--the opening years of the present century” (Sabaneef, 370).
Besides being a great influencer, Stravinsky was ironically someone who can be influenced easily.
In his mid-career, Stravinsky encountered a religious conversion which made a distinguishable impact on his work. In the article written Richard by Taruskin and Eric Walter White, they mentioned that “A religious strain can be detected in such major works as the operatic oratorio Oedipus Rex (1927), which uses a libretto in Latin, and the cantata Symphony of Psalms (1930), an overtly sacred work that is based on biblical texts. Religious feeling is also evident in the ballets Apollon musagète (1928) and in Persephone(1934)”. Regardless of the great effect of religion his work, Stravinsky proved that he was one of the best because he was able to complement his new influence to the Russian element to his work which was proven by his some of his works which are The Fairy’s Kiss (1928) and the Symphony of
Psalms.
Death.
Unlike Stravinsky’s early life, later years of his life was more peaceful and enjoyable. Gardner said that “While remaining a stickler for details and a perennial skinflint, he seems to have been able to enjoy life, with access to the friends, the travels, and the publicity he needed, as well as the privacy he prized”. One of the possible reasons why his later life was happier was because he was able to live his life doing what he loved and did best. According to the journal article “The Repatriation of Igor Stravinsky” by Robert Hughes, Thomas Koster, and Richard Taruskin, Stravinsky chose to live the last years of his life in the West. Even after his death, Stravinsky remained a very influential figure and his work has became classic.
The work of Igor Stravinsky has been admired by many even after his life has ended. His legacy will be remembered because his work has been the epiphany of classical music. He has created beautiful music that was ahead of its time. His work must be appreciated with intelligence and literacy of classical music. It does not lack uniqueness as many have found it to be admirable. The composer has been a good influence to people who will follow his footsteps into becoming a successful composer.

Works Cited:
Gardner, Howard. “Igor Stravinsky: The Poetics and Politics of Music.” AVANT, vol. 4, no. 3,
2013, p. 202.
Karlinsky, Simon, et al. Freedom from Violence and Lies: Essays on Russian Poetry and Music.
Academic Studies Press, 2013.
Krebs, Stanley. “Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky.” The Russian Review, vol. 30, no. 3, July
1971.JSTOR [JSTOR], www.jstor.org/stable/128160.
Sabaneef, Leonid. “Igor Stravvinsky.” Th, The Russian Review21, no. 4, Oct. 1962. JSTOR
[JSTOR], http://www.jstor.org/stable/126497.
White, Eric Walter, and Richard Taruskin. “Igor Stravinsky.” Encyclopædia Britannica,
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 30 Mar. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Igor-Stravinsky.