Igor Stravinsky: Understood Best by Children and Animals
'My music is best understood by children and animals,' said Igor Stravinsky. Undaunted, Tom Service seeks the essence of one of the 20th century's most elusive composers.
"My music is best understood by children and animals," pronounced Igor Stravinsky, no doubt with a twinkle in his eye. According to his critics (and jealous colleagues), Stravinsky's composing consisted of picking up any old second-hand musical baubles he fancied, like a restless musical magpie - sometimes he even had the effrontery to leave them virtually unchanged. Frustratingly, audiences seemed to lap it up. To make matters worse, when it came to explaining his music, Igor liked nothing better than to hide behind contradictory and gnomic statements, as bewildering and frequent as his changes of musical style.
Tom Service goes in search of the essence of Stravinsky, at once one of the greatest yet most elusive 20th Century composers. Including contributions from playwright Meredith Oakes and Stravinsky biographer Jonathan Cross.
David Papp (producer).
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Igor Stravinsky: The Musical Magpie
Duration: 02:02
Music Played
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John Adams
Son of Chamber Symphony
Performer: Alarm Will Sound. Performer: Alan Pierson.- Cantaloupe.
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John Williams
Main theme from 'Jaws'
Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Nic Raine.- Sony.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring (Part 1: L'Adoration de la Terre)
Performer: The Cleveland Orchestra. Performer: Pierre Boulez.- DG.
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Igor Stravinsky
Movements for Piano and Orchestra (V. Eighth note = 104)
Performer: Charles Rosen. Performer: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Igor Stravinsky.- Sony.
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Igor Stravinsky
Apollon musag猫te (Naissance d'Apollon)
Performer: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Performer: Riccardo Chailly.- Decca.
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Igor Stravinsky
Ebony Concerto
Performer: Michel Arrignon. Performer: Ensemble intercontemporain. Performer: Pierre Boulez.- DG.
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Igor Stravinsky
Symphony No.1 in E flat, Op.1 (II. Scherzo)
Performer: St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.- Decca.
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Igor Stravinsky
3 Easy Pieces for Piano Duet (II. Waltz)
Performer: Katia Lab猫que. Performer: Marielle Lab猫que.- Philips.
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Igor Stravinsky
Mavra (Chanson russe)
Performer: Olli Mustonen. Performer: Isabelle van Keulen.- Philips.
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Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella (I. Overture)
Performer: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Christopher Hogwood.- Decca.
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Domenico Gallo
Trio Sonata No.1 in G major (I. Moderato)
Performer: Christopher Hogwood. Performer: Romuald Tecco. Performer: Thomas Kornacker. Performer: Peter Howard.- Decca.
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Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella (XVII. Vivo)
Performer: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Christopher Hogwood.- Decca.
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Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Sinfonia for cello and continuo (IV. Presto)
Performer: Christopher Hogwood. Performer: Joshua Koestenbaum. Performer: Peter Howard.- Decca.
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Domenico Gallo
Trio Sonata No. 12 in E major (III. Allegro)
Performer: Parnassi Musici.- CPO.
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Igor Stravinsky
Pulcinella (XIX. Allegro assai)
Performer: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Performer: Christopher Hogwood.- Decca.
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Arnold Schoenberg
3 Satiren, Op. 28 (II. Vielseitigkeit)
Performer: London Sinfonietta. Performer: Simon Joly Chorale. Performer: Robert Craft.- Naxos.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring (Part 1: L'Adoration de la Terre)
Performer: The Cleveland Orchestra. Performer: Pierre Boulez.- DG.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Rake聮s Progress (Act 1, Sc.2 Cavatina: Love, too frequently betrayed)
Performer: Ian Bostridge. Performer: Monteverdi Choir. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- DG.
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Igor Stravinsky
Expectans expectavi, Dominum (Symphony of Psalms)
Choir: Tenebrae. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nigel Short.- Signum.
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Igor Stravinsky
Oedipus Rex (Act II: Oracula mentiuntur - Pavesco maxime)
Performer: Anne Sofie von Otter. Performer: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Esa鈥怭ekka Salonen.- Sony.
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Igor Stravinsky
Variations 'Aldous Huxley in memoriam'
Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Robert Craft.- Naxos.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Fairy's Kiss (Allegretto grazioso (fig. 132))
Performer: The Cleveland Orchestra. Performer: Oliver Knussen.- DG.
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Igor Stravinsky
Symphony in C (IV. Largo - Tempo giusto, alla breve)
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Michael Tilson Thomas.- Sony.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird (Scene 2: Kastchei's spell is broken)
Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Andris Nelsons.- Orfeo.
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Igor Stravinsky
Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Performer: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.- Decca.
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Igor Stravinsky
Requiem Canticles (IX. Postludium)
Performer: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Performer: Michael Gielen.- 贬盲苍蝉蝉濒别谤.
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Igor Stravinsky
Symphony of Psalms (III. Alleluia. Laudate Dominum)
Performer: Tenebrae. Performer: 麻豆社 Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Nigel Short.- Signum.
Broadcasts
- Sun 17 Jun 2018 17:00麻豆社 Radio 3
- Sun 4 Apr 2021 17:00麻豆社 Radio 3
- Sun 8 Aug 2021 17:00麻豆社 Radio 3
- Fri 13 Aug 2021 16:30麻豆社 Radio 3
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The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service