Music 271: 4/18/07 I: Igor Stravinsky’s contributions to the formation of 20th-century art music: A: Second Stage Nationalist (to the beginning of WWI) 1. The influence of Debussy on his ballet scores: • Collaborated with other Russian artist for a series of ballets made for Paris • Oiseau de feu (Firebird) - 1910 • Petrushka - 1911 • Le sacred u printemps (The Rite of Spring) - 1913 • “The Nightingale” opera displays many Debussy influences from Nuages 2. The Rite of Spring: and example of “Primitive Nationalism”: • Influenced by Russian composers (including Rimsky-Korsakov, his mentor) • Prompted a riot on its opening night • Based on Stravinsky’s dream about pre-Christian Russian community (Neolithic times). Virgin sacrifice brings about springtime • Represented a turning point for Stravinsky • Marked the ending of Post-Romanticism • 3 major political empires collapsed: Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire (October Revolution) • Stravinsky fled to Paris following the Russian Revolution B: Neo-Classicism: a Post WWI reaction to Post-Romanticism: • Defined as a return to absolute music coupled with a rejection of the attitude that music can be descriptive • 1923 - Stravinsky’s Octet for Winds (his first Neo-Classical piece) • Models were deliberately taken from 18th-century style • Elimination or subordination of the strings from the music (Winds and Brass become the standard in Neo-Classicism) • Open texture (Not a think texture, less parts then before) II: American Neo-Classicism: A: The influence of Nadia Boulanger: • French pedagogue of composition • Taught students how to find their own musical style • Demanded that students have knowledge of Western Art Music • Argued for Neo-Classicism in her teachings B: Aaron Copland’s piano variations: 1930 •