At the Source of the 20th Century (Towards the Centennial of “The Rite of Spring”)

Main Article Content

Alexander I. Demchenko

Abstract

Stravinsky’s famous ballet “The Rite of Spring,” which first
saw light in 1913, is interpreted by the author as a powerful
breakthrough into a principally new sound world. In it the
origins of the historical time in which we live up to the present
were fixated. Hence is the aspiration of Stravinsky at that
period towards the roots of existence, which was expressed
directly in three directions. The intonation foundation of the
micro-processes is represented by the stock of extremely short,
elementary melodic turns and a special motivic technique
polished at a highly sophisticated level of elaboration of motives.
The composer’s turn towards microstructures made it possible
to imprint the life of the subconscious woven out of instincts
and primary sensations. The elemental quality in “The Rite
of Spring” reveals by itself a force coming from the depths of
nature and human characteristics. It manifests itself in the forms
of fermentations of living energies and an outburst of uninhibited
energy not fettered by control of reason. The ballet demonstrates
the embodiments of the profound traits of the human being
from the early 20th century, connecting him with the root
eternal, primeval forms of existence. The “pagan” qualities
are represented by such qualities as depictions of ritualism,
pantheism and archaic character.

Keywords: Igor Stravinsky, Russian ballet, “The Rite of
Spring”

Article Details

How to Cite
Demchenko, A. I. (2013). At the Source of the 20th Century (Towards the Centennial of “The Rite of Spring”). Music Scholarship / Problemy Muzykal’noj Nauki, (2), 230–234. Retrieved from https://musicscholar.ru/index.php/PMN/article/view/149
Section
Artistic World of Musical Piece
Author Biography

Alexander I. Demchenko, Saratov State L.V. Sobinov Conservatory

Doctor of Arts,
Professor at the Music History Department

References

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