Education
Music 271: 4/18/07I: Igor Stravinsky’s contributions to the formation of 20th-century art music: A: Second Stage Nationalist (to the beginning of WWI)1. The influence of Debussy on his ballet scores:• Collaborated with other Russian artist for a series of ballets made for Paris• Oiseau de feu (Firebird) - 1910• Petrushka - 1911• Le sacred u printemps (The Rite of Spring) - 1913• “The Nightingale” opera displays many Debussy influences from Nuages2. The Rite of Spring: and example of “Primitive Nationalism”:• Influenced by Russian composers (including Rimsky-Korsakov, his mentor)• Prompted a riot on its opening night• Based on Stravinsky’s dream about pre-Christian Russian community (Neolithic times). Virgin sacrifice brings about springtime• Represented a turning point for Stravinsky• Marked the ending of Post-Romanticism• 3 major political empires collapsed: Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire (October Revolution)• Stravinsky fled to Paris following the Russian RevolutionB: Neo-Classicism: a Post WWI reaction to Post-Romanticism:• Defined as a return to absolute music coupled with a rejection of the attitude that music can be descriptive• 1923 - Stravinsky’s Octet for Winds (his first Neo-Classical piece)• Models were deliberately taken from 18th-century style• Elimination or subordination of the strings from the music (Winds and Brass become the standard in Neo-Classicism)• Open texture (Not a think texture, less parts then before)II: American Neo-Classicism: A: The influence of Nadia Boulanger:• French pedagogue of composition• Taught students how to find their own musical style• Demanded that students have knowledge of Western Art Music• Argued for Neo-Classicism in her teachings B: Aaron Copland’s piano variations: 1930•