How many pieces, for even a handful of bars, force a spontaneous moan out of you because their beauty is so great is is almost painful to hear them? Certainly this, Apollo, and The Rake's Progress are his most ravishingly (sorry Epogdous, but there seems to be none other more appropriate word) 'beautiful' scores from his neoclassical period. After forty years from my first exposure to those opening measure in 6/4, I still 'melt' when I hear it.
Besides the harmonies , colours , the counterpoint is also pretty nifty sometimes , I think. One of the Stravinsky must haves. I like bassoons trios also.
@iamalittlespy Tchaikovsky was loved and admired by Stravinsky. You can hear it almost everywhere in that 'Russian' way of handling woodwinds. The most direct "hommage" is his Baiser de la fee, using Tchaikovsky material (only if never orchestrated) and generating Stravinsky's own 'Tchaikovsky-like' music as well. A classic story ballet via Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow (or Ice) Queen. Check it out, another lovely score.
@MuseDuCafe Thanks for the insightful comment. I definitely hear a lot of Tchaikovsky in the faster part of this movement after about 3:00. I'll have to check out Baiser de la fee.
There is no other composer who can fill me with mystery and wonder and touch the deepest recesses of my intellect as can Stravinsky in his best pieces. Orpheus is one of his very best.
Wow, this is good I like the mix of instruments making dissonant chords, but it sounds good like that! There are FEW songs and even FEWER composers that can fit in dissonant chords nicely! Usually they come out rumbling and...ugh!
@lowgrau Actually I've never seen the original choreography. I don't know what really happens in the opening scene. Anyway those descending harpeggios always made me think of Orpheus descending to the Underworld.
@Epogdous there are other versions, particularly of the beginning, its like a flower opening in the morning, perhaps in the woods, imagine a city waking up
Thank you epogdous. This is one of my favorites Stravinsky ballet works. I enjoy it much more than his warhorses. I wonder if the recording Stravinsky made of it with the Chicago Symphony is floating around anywhere.
It's a very rare recording. Maybe the last edition was that of CBS in 1982. It was part of the collection "Igor Stravinsky: The Recorded Legacy" (CBS GM3 I, 2/82). You should look for it in second-hand stores or in auction catalogs. Good luck!
That record was conducted by Craft? I donť want to believe that, it's so fast and that ruined whole song.
wojciech29 3 months ago
How many pieces, for even a handful of bars, force a spontaneous moan out of you because their beauty is so great is is almost painful to hear them? Certainly this, Apollo, and The Rake's Progress are his most ravishingly (sorry Epogdous, but there seems to be none other more appropriate word) 'beautiful' scores from his neoclassical period. After forty years from my first exposure to those opening measure in 6/4, I still 'melt' when I hear it.
MuseDuCafe 8 months ago
the intro is way cool
lowgrau 10 months ago
the beginning is so so, i can't get past it
lowgrau 10 months ago
Besides the harmonies , colours , the counterpoint is also pretty nifty sometimes , I think. One of the Stravinsky must haves. I like bassoons trios also.
FenderRhodesService 1 year ago
I hear a lot of Tchaikovsky in here ! Its very well "disguised" in dissonance and chromaticism but its still there nonetheless.
iamalittlespy 1 year ago
@iamalittlespy Tchaikovsky was loved and admired by Stravinsky. You can hear it almost everywhere in that 'Russian' way of handling woodwinds. The most direct "hommage" is his Baiser de la fee, using Tchaikovsky material (only if never orchestrated) and generating Stravinsky's own 'Tchaikovsky-like' music as well. A classic story ballet via Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow (or Ice) Queen. Check it out, another lovely score.
MuseDuCafe 5 months ago
@MuseDuCafe Thanks for the insightful comment. I definitely hear a lot of Tchaikovsky in the faster part of this movement after about 3:00. I'll have to check out Baiser de la fee.
iamalittlespy 4 months ago
There is no other composer who can fill me with mystery and wonder and touch the deepest recesses of my intellect as can Stravinsky in his best pieces. Orpheus is one of his very best.
StMartinTours 1 year ago
fine performance. 5 stars and a favo.
CaptainBluebear08 1 year ago
This music has an otherworldly calm and beauty.
StMartinTours 1 year ago
This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Great piece, great performance. Thanks for posting!
druckmanmusic 1 year ago
stravinsky is not bad
dalecampbl5 1 year ago
Wow, this is good I like the mix of instruments making dissonant chords, but it sounds good like that! There are FEW songs and even FEWER composers that can fit in dissonant chords nicely! Usually they come out rumbling and...ugh!
AnAmericanComposer 1 year ago
OMG! I love so much the beginning!!! it is soooo beautiful and AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for share it!
acrillon1 2 years ago 3
The beginning is ravishing. The descending scales played by the harp give the impression of Orpheus descending to Hell. Stravinsky was a real genius.
Epogdous 2 years ago 4
Yes, Stravinsky was a REAL genius, but not because of his ability to represent in music extramusical things but just because of his music itself
acrillon1 2 years ago
@Epogdous u sure about that hell thing?
lowgrau 10 months ago
@lowgrau Actually I've never seen the original choreography. I don't know what really happens in the opening scene. Anyway those descending harpeggios always made me think of Orpheus descending to the Underworld.
Epogdous 10 months ago
@Epogdous there are other versions, particularly of the beginning, its like a flower opening in the morning, perhaps in the woods, imagine a city waking up
lowgrau 10 months ago
Thank you epogdous. This is one of my favorites Stravinsky ballet works. I enjoy it much more than his warhorses. I wonder if the recording Stravinsky made of it with the Chicago Symphony is floating around anywhere.
runupahill1 2 years ago
It's a very rare recording. Maybe the last edition was that of CBS in 1982. It was part of the collection "Igor Stravinsky: The Recorded Legacy" (CBS GM3 I, 2/82). You should look for it in second-hand stores or in auction catalogs. Good luck!
Epogdous 2 years ago