Stravinsky: "Movements for Piano and Orchestra"

Igor Stravinsky: "Movements for Piano and Orchestra" (1958-59). An example of Stravinsky's late period serial work.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• serial
• dodecaphonic
• new
• modern
• music

[arvidtom]

This is a poignant example of the old man Stravinsky trying to ingratiate himself with the younger generation of composers who became fashionable at that time, particularly Boulez (who, even in his mid-twenties, was already terribly influential back then...). Compare these late, sterile 12-tone works with his brilliantly early works and it's not easy to see how his attempt to keep up with the latest compositional fashion (ie, serialism) destroyed his genius.

[NewMusicXX]

While I agree about the influence of Boulez, and the brilliance of Stravinsky's early works (Le Sacre, etc), his middle period neoclassical works

seem more deserving of the label "sterile" than his 12-tone compositions, which by comparison, are quite exciting.

[Leibo07]

What recording is this?

[NewMusicXX]

Esa-Pekka Salonen, London Sinfonietta, SONY 45797, Robert Crossley at the piano

[peppersax]

The HELL with all these labels. I love Stravinsky and I loved his musical style throughout his life. I may or may not care for some of his works (there's only a few). I appreciate his genius and strive as a composer to adopt and incorporate some of his style in my own writings. BRAVO Igor..........You RULE!

[Northside777]

A brilliant work, every bit as fine as his earlier compositions. Different from them but still very Stravinsky in phrasing and cadential gestures. The piece appeals more and more on occasional repeated listening. The whole business stated by a few people about Stravinsky being mislead by younger composers is a total myth made up after the fact. Stravinsky's main interest during this period was Webern and Gesualdo. This piece shows the influence of both and is also highly individual.

[guidepost42]

"serialism destroyed his genius" Oh really? You mean as in Agon? Music that will be played and danced as long as there is music and dance.

[Easleytee]

@arvidtom

Only DEATH can destroy genius you FUCKING DOLT!

[AfroDeezeeYak]

You are right in saying that Stravinsky will be better remembered for his earlier works. They are far more accessible: a child can watch his Rite of Spring coupled with the images from 'Fantasia' and it would make a point to said child.

Accessibility, however, does not equate to 'greatness'.

[AfroDeezeeYak]

@arvidtom There are an infinite number of composers who have tried so many different things, their early works would be unrecognizable from their late. A prime example: go listen to Lutoslawski's Piano Sonata, then his 3rd Symphony.

By the way: Stravinsky didn't adopt dodecaphony to 'please people like Boulez'. Stravinsky was known for willingness to foster new techniques....you could equally say that Stravinsky 'only wrote Firebird to please people like Rimsky Korsakov'. 

[martapoalbori]

Music, independently of time, periods, composer or stiles; stays beyond opinions about it (in spite of the respect for anyone’s point of view). You are probably aware of the saying: “an opinion basically speaks about the subject speaking” (more or less)

[mrnnhnz]

@arvidtom. S's music did develop and mature in the 50 years between The Firebird and Movements, so yes, if you heard just The Firebird and then Movements, it may be difficult to find similarities. Apart from the 50 year time gap, the music is for different ensembles, purposes, audiences etc. etc. And yet, some of the similarities include use of:

polytonality

whole gamut of instrument's range

complex rhythms - tuplets etc

tremolos for 'brooding' character

inversion

retrograde

tempo contrasts..

[arvidtom]

@mrnnhnz In these serial works, Stravinsky's fingerprints can only be identified *in retrospect*, i.e., after we know how his music developed over the years. If we didn't know anything about Stravinsky at all and listened to the Firebird first and then to this 12-tone piece, it would be very hard to tell it's the same composer. I am convinced that Stravinsky will be better remembered for his brilliant early works than for his late serial works which he only wrote to please people like Boulez.

[knucmo]

@arvidtom Hardly. You speak of the 'late 12-tone works' as if they were one homogenous mass. Well, they aren't to any one who knows this period. Compare the bouncy and tumbling rhythms of this piece with the severity (rhythmically and mood-wise) of say, Threni, with its block-like form, or the religiosity of the Requiem Canticles. They are different species entirely.

[musoderelict]

Let's face it. Even Stravinsky's Neo-Classical phase music was just like Webern, only without the black notes. This is just one step further.