Igor+Stravinsky

[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Igor_Stravinsky_LOC_32392u.jpg width="155" height="210"]]
===Igor Stravinsky was born in 1882, towards the end of the romantic period. However, he didn’t begin composing until the early 20th Century. His first composition, //Symphony in E flat Major,// was written in 1907. He composed right up until his death in 1971 (Mid-Late 20th Century)===

===In the very early years of the 20th Century period, artists such as Giacomo Puccini were also composing. Although Puccini did compose many of his works in the romantic period, some of his most famous works such as //Tosca,// were written and performed in the 20th Century.===

Australian artist, Aaron Copeland composed from early in the 20th Century to later in the 20th Century (1970’s) His last piece was composed just a few years after Stravinsky’s death.
===Benjamin Britten was also a well-known composer of the 20th Century. Although he acknowledged traditional 20th Century characteristics in his works, he also liked to include more contemporary features in his music.===

===Stravinsky composed ballets, oratorios, operas, sacred music, neoclassical pieces, cantatas as well as many vocal and instrumental works. Throughout the lifetime of his compositions, he introduced modernism into his music. At first, people and the audiences didn’t like the new features that were becoming part of 20th Century music. The premiere Stravinsky’s //The Rite of Spring// in Paris in 1913, turned into a riot when the strange costumes and the unusual music became too much for the audience. People hissed and turned their back to the stage because they weren’t used to the kind of music that he began composing.=== ===Throughout the course of Stravinsky’s writing career, the characteristics of his music changed, therefore leaving most of his works with an inconsistency in style. This is partly due to the modernism that Stravinsky included in his music. His style would have changed with the times.=== ===For most of his career, Stravinsky had frowned upon Arnold Schoenberg’s ‘Twelve Tone System’ However, towards the end of his writing period, he acquired to the ideas and characteristics of it and began including the elements of the ‘Twelve Tone System’ in his music.===

Instruments

 * ===Flutes===
 * ===Trumpet===
 * ===Piccolo===
 * ===Clarinet===
 * ===Trombone===
 * ===Cymbals===
 * ===Triangles===
 * ===Cello===
 * ===Violins===
 * ===Double bass===
 * === Viola ===

Analysis

 * ===4/4 time===
 * === Consistently fast tempo ===
 * ===Uses the brass instrument a lot, giving the piece a military feeling===
 * ===The pattern that goes from 0:30 to 0:35 reoccurs multiple times throughout the work.===
 * ===When the music becomes more intense, the music reaches //forte// and it uses many accented notes.===
 * === Uses a sudden drop in tempo and dynamics to change the setting/mood/feeling. ===
 * ===From 0:22 to 0:30 there is a call and response between flutes happening. It gets faster in the lead up to the climax of the section.===
 * ===The flutes are often used to answer the brass instruments.===
 * ===Cymbals are used in the climatic points===
 * ===At 1:40, the tempo, style and dynamics change, indicating a new scene/setting.===
 * ===Mainly flutes===
 * ===The brass instruments return, striking over the top of the flutes. ===
 * ===This section is repeated immediately, using piccolos. This is accompanied by a string ostanato===
 * ===The main, repeated pattern returns (along with the previous setting) at 2:20===
 * ===Irregular accents at the beginning===
 * ===Ascending runs are used in the lead up to a new section or a climatic point.===

Instruments

 * === Bassoon ===
 * === Flutes ===
 * ===Piccolo===
 * ===Clarinet===
 * ===Trumpets===
 * ===Violins===
 * ===Cello===
 * ===Viola===
 * ===Trombone===
 * ===Timpani===
 * ===Double Bass===
 * ===Tambourine===
 * ===Triangle===
 * ===Cymbals===

Analysis

 * ===4/4 time===
 * ===Clarinet Solo===
 * ===Discordant, accented, staccato notes===
 * ===Timpani is played on the offbeats===
 * ===Sudden changes in dynamics throughout the whole excerpt. Creates emotion and different scenes/settings.===
 * ===From 29:45 to 29:53:Repetitive use of attacking brass instruments.===
 * ===A reoccurring pattern played by some of the brass family is played moderately softly (//mezzo// //piano//) while trumpets and trombones strike very loudly (//fortissimo//) over the top.===
 * ===Creates a marching feel.===
 * ===Irregular accents===
 * ===Brass instruments used a lot.===
 * ===This excerpt sounds like a fight scene===
 * ===From 30:45 to 30:53, Strings are played violently to illustrate a chase scene.===
 * ===The horns create strong contrast in dynamics and articulation.===
 * ===This piece uses a lot of syncopation===