Rite of Spring Paper Outline
Music History
Research Paper on Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring
I. Introduction
A. The music and choreography of the premiere Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring on the 29th of May 1913, in Paris, France changed the form and sentiments of ballet by challenging conventional expectations of the past, transforming the work into the acclaimed masterpiece and milestone in ballet it is today.
II. Stravinsky- brief background of life up until the premiere of The Rite of Spring
A. Birth and Life in Russian Empire
1. Family
2. Musical Influences
a) Mussorgsky
b) Rimsky-Korsakov
c) Glazunov
d) Wagner
3. Law school and Nikolai Rimsky-Korskov
4. First orchestral works and Commission by Diaghilev
a) Firebird, first ballet score
B. Life in Switzerland
1. Begins composition on The Rite of Spring
III. Analysis of Rite of Spring
A. Musical fragments
1. Jarring
2. Dissonant
3. Difficult
B. Compelling rhythms
1. To provide a structure to drive the dramatic action
2. Frees harmonic gears
C. Things that weren’t supposed to be
1. bassoon bleats at the beginning
a) higher than it should ever go
2. Percussion
a) pounded out primitive rhythms
D. Structure
E. Ballet
1. Conventional form and expectations
2. The changes made and why
3. Where it is today a) Original Choreography was lost
b) Original costuming found, and used in the LA performance
IV. THE PREMIERE
A. Begin with an original quote/critque, deciding on 2 or 3 options,
1. QUOTE OPTIONS
a) “Parisians hiss new ballet”
b) “Russian Dancer’s newest offering ‘The Consecration of Spring’ a failure.”
c) “Has to turn up lights. Manager of theatre takes this means to stop hostile demonstrations as the dance goes on.”
B. Recount of what happened that night
1. The expectations of the audience --> CLASSICAL BALLET
2. They received an intense rhythmic score and primitive set of PAGAN Russia.
3. The violent dance of fertility rites first gets whistles and catcalls
4. Escalates to fistfights
Research Paper on Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring
I. Introduction
A. The music and choreography of the premiere Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring on the 29th of May 1913, in Paris, France changed the form and sentiments of ballet by challenging conventional expectations of the past, transforming the work into the acclaimed masterpiece and milestone in ballet it is today.
II. Stravinsky- brief background of life up until the premiere of The Rite of Spring
A. Birth and Life in Russian Empire
1. Family
2. Musical Influences
a) Mussorgsky
b) Rimsky-Korsakov
c) Glazunov
d) Wagner
3. Law school and Nikolai Rimsky-Korskov
4. First orchestral works and Commission by Diaghilev
a) Firebird, first ballet score
B. Life in Switzerland
1. Begins composition on The Rite of Spring
III. Analysis of Rite of Spring
A. Musical fragments
1. Jarring
2. Dissonant
3. Difficult
B. Compelling rhythms
1. To provide a structure to drive the dramatic action
2. Frees harmonic gears
C. Things that weren’t supposed to be
1. bassoon bleats at the beginning
a) higher than it should ever go
2. Percussion
a) pounded out primitive rhythms
D. Structure
E. Ballet
1. Conventional form and expectations
2. The changes made and why
3. Where it is today a) Original Choreography was lost
b) Original costuming found, and used in the LA performance
IV. THE PREMIERE
A. Begin with an original quote/critque, deciding on 2 or 3 options,
1. QUOTE OPTIONS
a) “Parisians hiss new ballet”
b) “Russian Dancer’s newest offering ‘The Consecration of Spring’ a failure.”
c) “Has to turn up lights. Manager of theatre takes this means to stop hostile demonstrations as the dance goes on.”
B. Recount of what happened that night
1. The expectations of the audience --> CLASSICAL BALLET
2. They received an intense rhythmic score and primitive set of PAGAN Russia.
3. The violent dance of fertility rites first gets whistles and catcalls
4. Escalates to fistfights