Synopses & Reviews
Of Russian, French, and later American nationality, Stravinsky's musical styles are startlingly diverse, reflecting his life and era; from Tsarist Russia, to 1920s France and post-war USA. His early years in Russia saw him launch his international career, with Dyagilve's Ballets Russes in Paris and the premieres of
The Firebird,
Petrushka and
The Rite of Spring.
Between 1920-1939 Stravinsky lived and worked in France, producing his great neo-classical compositions, reactivating the modes and manners of the eighteenth century. This stylistic inclination eventually gave way to a highly individual use of serial techniques in his last years, when he took up residence in the United States.
This biography of Igor Stravinsky is one in a new series of composer biographies, derived and adapted from the second edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. These newly written biographies bring the best of the book-length pieces in The New Grove to a wider audience.
Each title provides fresh new insights into the life and works of a major composer, derived from the most recent scholarship. In addition to a detailed and informative view of the subject's life and works, written by an expert in the field, each book includes comprehensive, tabular work-lists and a fully revised and updated bibliography.
Synopsis
Grove Art: The New Grove Art series, focusing on the most important periods and areas of art history, is derived from the critically acclaimed "The Dictionary of Art. Each book contains hundreds of articles by world authorities, written in clear, jargon-free language and provides an unprecedented guide to Western art. Grove Music: The scholarship of the world-renowned "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is now available in four convenientlysized paperbacks. These biographies offerallyou need to know about some of the most innovative and prolific composers ever known.
About the Author
Stephen Walsh is senior lecturer in music at Cardiff University. He has a particular interest in 20th century music and has written in
Tempo,
Musical Times,
Music and Musicians--notably on British composers and Hungarian music. His writings include
The Lieder of Schumann (1971),
Bartok Chamber Music (1975) and
Stravinsky: A Creative Spring (1999).