Igor Strawinsky: Symphonies of Winds

[TheJimsnyder55]

Is that Steve Wozniak on bassoon? lol

[L0R3N23]

The last couple of high notes on the horn are G above the staff and A

[KpTeen43781]

no, we are all Bb clarinets. Rehearsed it this evening.

[jamiebyrne77]

clever, beautiful piece - thanks for posting

[chasjenn]

I understand that the form of this piece is based on a Russian funeral mass. The snippets of melodic motvs are folk tunes interwoven with the slow somber full ensemble chords. Harmonically there is much use of octatonic scales and triads which are dervived from them.

[skg1991]

Edo de Waart is an amazing conductor. Such a lush, expansive sound-- very critical of this, he is! Best of luck with the MSO, maestro.

[ilkinond]

Can someone help me 'get' this piece? I just don't know what to look for in it, or how to appreciate it.

Thanks!

[tijmtol]

The piece consist of small bars of ritmical themes (there not realy melodies) that are repeated and mixed up. Just try to notice them. The first "theme is the high clarinets. It is repeated many times. The second theme consist of the low brass cords. These cords are the same as wich the piece ends with. I think what makes this piece so beautifull is the pure russian sound of the cords and timbres.

[zxzmaximuszxz]

@ilkinond the chords. the chords. the chords. consider that the piece was in memory of debussy as well.

[pompel2pilt]

The last 1 1/2 minute ("chorale") was written first, and you will hear elements of it all the way through the piece.

[bunniesgohop]

Stravinsky always gives the low instruments amazing parts. it's beautiful!

[yaasper]

I am so glad the ensemble took their time with each phrase... to embrace silences and to allow the audience to absorb each chord... Those last two minutes is almost like feeling someone slowly dying...

[suppohkram]

are the really high notes in the beginning played by clarinets?

wow.

never knew they can go so high.

[foreignboy221]

Yup. Clarinet's official range is to high A the space 4 lines above the staff. But it's extended is to the C above that A. Some players can go higher, but past that C it's not considered in the range anymore.

[ThaSchwab]

Those are just regular clarinets, have you ever heard E-flat clarinets?

[ranthlee]

@suppohkram It's probably an E-flat clarinet, which is pitched a fourth higher than a B-flat.

[johntabacco]

Stravinsky takes us from birth to death in this piece. The last chord leaves me wondering about the inevitable. Just too beautiful and sad for words.  One of my favorite works of all time. Pure genius.

[jockboy69]

@johntabacco Stravinsky was the 20th century's equivalent to J.S. Bach. The gods looked kindly upon him, and he was the channel through which this music flowed. The world will never be the same, now that he walked among us. As long as the planet turns on its axis, his music will be with us, and everyone who comes after us. We are but the grateful beneficiaries.

[bameylan]

En ik nog meer haren... snif boehoe!

[JBHMDNCK]

hey ... toen had arto nog donkere haren haha

cool