Great Composers: Igor Stravinsky

A look at one of the 20th century's most versatile masters.
This was a viewer request from KZbinr jamesaellis. If you've got a question or request for a future video, leave a comment, shoot me a message through KZbin, or use the email/Tumblr links below.
CORRECTION: Stravinsky died at the age of 88. I have difficulty remembering numbers sometimes, and screwed this one up.
----------
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
----------
Music:
- Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring [piano four-hands], performed by Graziella Concas and Dario Strazzeri
[free recording courtesy pianosociety.com]
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
----------
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
----------
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@aflightofbumblebee749]

Imagine instead of parents wanting you to get a regular job, you had parents who wanted you to be like Igor Stravinsky.

[@emmanuelbarks5896]

He died in 1971 at the age of 88.

[@DrMarianus]

Stravinsky was a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov, as were Alexander Glazunov and Ottorino Respighi. Rimsky-Korsakov, like Ravel, is noted for his orchestral color, or groupings of instruments. I studied his Principals or Orchestration book in college. The Russian folk music influence runs deep in their music. The Rite of Spring can be seen on KZbin in its recreation by the Bolshoi/Marinsky? KZbin also has a video of Bernstein explaining the complex and involved time signatures. And we know now that Stravinsky and Coco Channel had some kind of relationship. She was the famous founder and developer of the "Channel" brand of perfume and clothing) . His effect on 20th-century Western (and other genres) of music has been profound.

[@robkunkel8833]

“The Riot of Spring” ... oh you kid. It seems like he had trouble getting past his early successes. He was an amazing composer. Thanks.

[@trezythirdy3527]

How successful was he before his involvement with Ballets russe?

[@magicway3092]

This video makes my day . Full support for you.🌺💞

[@wolfgangresch1650]

Excellent!! Thank you 👍👍👍👍

[@sterlingbidler]

Great Video!

[@kagisoramosa1871]

Greetings. Is there perhaps a more detailed biography?? I am doing a musicology assignment and would love to write about Stravinsky. I am a huge fan of your channel and really appreciate your research as it helps me loads as a music degree student, all the way in South Africa. P.S yes, we do learn Western Arts music in Africa

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!!

[@paradox7743]

The Rite of Spring is pure Masterpiece which @ times is musical complex and then turns rather Primitive. The greatness to him was his ability to evolve and not repeat himself like Picasso. They were fearless- Fusion God Miles Davis did this except Miles seem to change by the mili-second n Never Repeated himself n Always offered up something TIMELESS n Fresh....

[@mombo4654]

You should’ve mentioned the time Stravinsky met Charlie Parker and got super drunk after Parker put the firebird into his solo

[@ClassicalNerd]

"Times Igor Stravinsky Got Totally Wasted" needs to be a whole video unto itself, I think ...

[@michaelagonzalez]

Thanks

[@mikeytaylor3901]

Stravinsky being a great conductor of his own music is debated. Seiji Ozawa relates Stravinsky having to revise the score of Rite of Spring bc he couldn’t conduct in the odd time signature later in life. Most people seem to prefer Boulez or Bernstein when it comes to Stravinsky’s works

[@joerhodes8785]

I wish more people we're familiar with British Composer Arthur Jackson AKA, Arthur ' two shed's ' Jackson.

[@CMI2017]

He died in 1971.

[@stevekudlo1464]

maybe a brief account of american classical music would make for a good program. Also, what is the future of classical music in this country? (a hard one). thanks for your great work!

[@WilliamAhlert]

Interesting! I’m currently learning his fourth etude op.7. Where should I look for more information on this early period of his composing?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Generally I try to find academic sources-books, journal articles, dissertations, etc. I would recommend searching for whatever piece(s) interest you with a few academic-y keywords ... you'd be surprised what comes up even just with a Google search, as lots of universities host their doctoral dissertations and masters' theses on public servers as .PDFs.

[@anthonycook6213]

Stravinsky discusses his early works in his collaborative books done with Robert Craft (Op. 7 is discussed in Expositions and Developments). Eric Walter White's 2nd Ed. of "Stravinsky, the composer and his works" mentions the influence of Scriabin. I believe his book can be found online.

[@jackking2225]

@@ClassicalNerd love the series - I would love it if you made some book recommendations although maybe people’s opinions are strong definite biographies etc. I’m studying Russian and I’m finding documentaries about Russian composers and articles gets me more motivated to study. Too many people try Russian lit but it’s really pretty hard and discouraging- even Russians find their best authors hard - it’s almost criminal how much Russian teaching neglects the music compared to lit and history.

[@ierikopj]

[@LouisGuillotYT]

At 3:05 I'm almost sure this fact is not true and has been invented (like a lot of Facts about this premiere, to amplify the event) just because Saint-Saens wasn't at the premiere and he was not the type of man who loudely leave a concert to make a joke about the music. But I know that this "fake-fact" is really famous, I used to think it was true.

[@stevekudlo1464]

Massacra du printemps

[@ondreece4612]

Who’s here from fresh prince lmao

[@dantehowlstice3052]

"Bach on the wrong notes."

[@larsjohansson7954]

Well, four periods rather: Late romantic/impressionistic, primitivistic/folkloristic, neoclassical/neobaroque and serialistic/religious.

[@danfriend9567]

This was a disgrace.Nine minutes on Igor Stravinsky.I've seen you break the 30 minute mark on Footnote Midgets. Also,he didnt die at 81 in 1977.He died at the Age of 88 on April 6,1971 in NYC.

[@djrbfmbfm-woa]

yup. j.

[@melovebass178]

Pretty sure all his earlier videos are shorter...

[@petersturmey2789]

The classical nerd does not like Stravinsky clearly

[@anthonycook6213]

I remember that day, and was in mourning for weeks.