Igor Stravinsky

[Forte]

What's your favorite Stravinsky piece? Like most, mine is The Rite of Spring. You gotta love a song that started a riot. It makes me wanna go see the ballet.

[Thorolf]

“The Rite Of Spring” is ace in every respect. Nevertheless, I can’t mention Stravinsky without thinking of his “Symphony of Psalms”, and an exquizite recording I have, made by the boys choir Westminster Cathedral Choir, City of London Sinfonia, conducted by James O’Donnell from 1999

This is probably the only high quality recording in existence that heeds Stravinsky’s note in the score: “The choir should contain children’s voices, which may be replaced by female voices (soprano and alto) if a children’s choir is not available.”

This is also a very interresting score, as it seems to ask core questions about symphonic settings in a very original way:
Q: What is the soul and core of the symphony orchestra?
A: The upper strings, violins and violas
Conclusion: Take them out!
Q: What is the soul and core of any symphonic band?
A: The clarinets.
Conclusion: Take them out.

Then fill the void with childrens voices, 2 pianos and a harp!

This highly original score gives the voices a certain sonic space where they do not have to compete with high strings and clarinets; the other winds regularly present organ like voicings, only with a subtlety that never can be fully acheived on the organ, and the effect is a trancending sacred setting, with all the extra power of true symphonic sonorities.

For one of the most heartbreaking moments in symphonic history, listen to the three “Alleluia” sections of the 3rd movement, in the opening, middle, and ending. And for pure harmonic magic, follow the harmonies leading up to the last one of these.

I cannot recommend going in depth on this score (and this recording!) highly enough.



Regards

[Student]

Le Sacre du Printemps (Rite of Spring, it's actually blasting away in my ears right now) is a beautiful work, as is A Symphony of Psalms (I have a different recording that also uses children's voices, and it's pretty decent), as is L'Oiseaux de Feu (The Firebird, if I listen to it I get the apotheosis of the theme running through my head on loop forever). However, in my mind (at the moment, ask me in a year and it'll be something else) The Rake's Progress is Stravinsky's greatest work. A masterpiece of vocal line, counterpoint and dramatic style and one of the greatest operas of all time.

[Thorolf]

Originally Posted by Student

[...]A Symphony of Psalms (I have a different recording that also uses children's voices, and it's pretty decent)

That was interresting! Could you find outmore about it? Thanks in advance!



Regards

[kenm]

Somewhere, I have a cassette of three versions of "Les Noces", performed on one evening at the Round House c. 1980. The first was with large orchestra included a pianola and keyed dulcimers and (IIRC) the wind and strings sparsely used; non-delivery of the dulcimers caused Stravinsky to abandon its scheduled first performance and rescore in several stages. The final one is the one we know with no orchestra, just singers and percussion, including four pianos. The version I found most striking was an intermediate one, with the original large orchestra but no pianola or dulcimer. This was used very much in the manner of the Rite. I can understand Stravinsky preferring the final version because of the greater impact of the singers, with their strongly characterised ethnicity, but for excitement and sheer beauty of sound the orchestral version has it.

[reith]

Originally Posted by Forte

What's your favorite Stravinsky piece? Like most, mine is The Rite of Spring. You gotta love a song that started a riot. It makes me wanna go see the ballet.

I've been longing to see it as a ballet for ages! (Regardless of what happened at its first performance - Stravinsky's own comment was amusing, about ze curtain goink up to show zese k-nock-kneed, longk-braided lolitas dancink op and down and someone shouted 'eet's a geurl!'...and nijinsky trying to shout numbers from the wings.)
All praise to Monteux, the first to conduct the thing. It's a masterpiece in every respect but particularly orchestration...a leap from L'Oiseau du Feu - nice as a ballet (the Royal Danish version is supremely sensuous) but (to me) boring just to listen to as a concert piece/suite.

I'll add the Cantata to his list of listenable works. But it is for the Rite that he'll be remembered.

[Student]

Originally Posted by Thorolf

That was interresting! Could you find outmore about it? Thanks in advance!



Regards

I think it's this recording, but the fact of the matter is I have a lot of old records and I know Stravinsky conducted this work more than once. Hopefully it's the right one, but you never know which ones they port.

Amazon.com: Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms/Symphony in 3 Movements: Music: Igor Stravinsky,Igor Stravinsky,CBC Symphony Orchestra,Columbia Symphony Orchestra

[Alex]

I really like his Sonata in F sharp minor and the Scherzo a la russe for jazz band. The Scherzo is really interesting musically and nearly gives me chills.

Alex

[LethalBunny]

rite of spring, symphony of psalms, both so amazing. =]

[Boneman]

I quite like Stavinsky's smaller works, his octet for instance is really great!