STRAVINSKY, Igor Fyodorovich

Born in 1882 in Oranienbaum near St. Petersburg, the son of an opera singer Mariinsky FI Stravinsky. In 1900 - 1905gg. studied at the Faculty of St. Petersburg University. From childhood he studied piano at the AP Snetkova and LA Kashperovoy. In 1903 - 1905gg. took lessons in composition at H. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, whom he called his spiritual father. Under the influence of Rimsky-Korsakov turned to the Russian musical folklore, to the ritual and ceremonial imagery, to shed splints. His first major work, suffused with national motifs, appeared after a meeting with Sergei Diaghilev, who commissioned Stravinsky wrote one of the most brilliant of his scores - the ballet on the Russian tale "The Firebird" (1910). The following year he completed another ballet - "Petrushka", where the living and reliable images reconstructed pictures of Russian Shrovetide. Musical language "Firebird" and "Petrushka" still maintains contact with the old tradition, . but in the third ballet - "The Rite of Spring" (1913), . which was set in ancient pagan Russia, . Stravinsky broke with the tradition of musical, . freely using the unresolved dissonances and ever-changing rhythms of the incredible complexity of,
. Premiere of "The Rite of Spring," set the Russian Ballet of Diaghilev in Paris on May 29, 1913, accompanied by the rapid expression of indignation on the part of the public. Since then the name of Stravinsky became a symbol of cutting-edge trends in music.
Before the First World War, the composer left Russia. Since 1914. settled in Switzerland in 1920 - in France. In this, t. n. neo-classical period (prior to the 1950's.) to replace Russian topics came Classical mythology, a significant place was taken by the biblical texts. Stravinsky turned to the various stylistic models, mastering the techniques and tools of European Baroque music (opera-oratorio "Oedipus Rex", 1927), an ancient technique of polyphony ( "Symphony of Psalms" for chorus and orchestra, 1930) and others. However, the mentioned works, as well as ballet with singing "Pulcinella" (on theme J. B. Pergolesi, . 1920) and the ballet "The Fairy's Kiss" (1928) - not so much a model in styling, . how bright original works (using a variety of historical and stylistic model, . composer in accordance with their individual qualities, creates a modern-sounding works),
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In 1939 Stravinsky moved to the U.S. (in 1945. received an American citizen). Here are written the ballet "Orpheus" (1947), 2 nd and 3 rd Symphonies (1940, 1945), the opera "The Rake's Progress" (1951). Since the mid 1950's. the composer is characterized by a predominance of religious themes ( "sacred hymns", . 1956, "Requiem Canticles", . 1966, . etc.), . strengthening the role of vocal beginning (words), . free use dodekafonnoy technology (but within the inherent tone of Stravinsky thinking),
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Stravinsky conducted extensive concert activities (conducted mostly his own compositions, and performed as a pianist).
He died in New York on April 6, 1971.