Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite: Revisited

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)… the man who single-handedly revolutionized Music at the turn of the last century, is arguably the most influential composer of modern music. Time Magazine had named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th Century.

The Firebird was premiered as a ballet by Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in Paris on June 25th, 1910.

I’ve already mentioned The Firebird Suite here, but…

This “gem” from YouTube is none other than Stravinsky himself conducting his own Firebird Suite, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra at The Royal Festival Hall in London, England!

The Firebird… is probably my most favorite piece of music from the Classical genre. It definitely has had a lasting influence on me, and continues to be a major source of inspiration. The Infernal Dance movement as well as the Finale are just simply amazing… incredible… pure genius.

One of the saddest, most melancholy melodies that I know of is this Lullaby. So sad, yet the symphonic textures produce an other-worldly atmosphere… such sadness then quietly leads to the Finale, stated by the solo French Horn, its melody seeming to echo throughout a valley of Hope… and the orchestra patiently escalates until it explodes into joyous bliss… well, that’s how I describe it anyway.

So, this week my musical focus is on the musical works of Igor Stravinsky. And searching for more YouTube videos of this great composer. Here’s a portion of a documentary on Stravinsky.

Stravinsky professes that Music had to have been created by God. When you think about it, one of the things that separates humankind from the animals is our ability to express ourselves by creating Music and Art.

Oh my…

Here’s The Adoration of the Earth from Stravinsky’s Le Sacre Du Printemps (”The Rite of Spring“). Talk about a shot heard ’round the world as far as a radical departure from the previous musical forms…

…and after this, Music was never the same again.