Experiencing Stravinsky: A Listener's Companion

by Robin Maconie, Gregg Akkerman (Editor)

Hear the name Igor Stravinsky and the first thing that comes to mind is a composer of ponderous, serious music. But did you know Stravinsky lived much of his life in Hollywood, which influenced his work? That an innovative orchestral arrangement he prepared of The Star Spangled Banner nearly got him arrested in Boston? That he collaborated on musical projects with Pablo Picasso and George Balanchine? In Experiencing Stravinsky, music historian Robin Maconie takes a completely fresh approach to understanding the great composer s works, explaining what makes Stravinsky s sound so unique and what we, as listeners, need to know in order to appreciate the variety and brilliance of his compositions. Experiencing Stravinsky is more than another work of music appreciation. In the author s deft hands, Stravinsky s long musical career is a guided tour through 20th-century history, from Czarist Russia and two world wars to the height of the Hollywood era and the birth of the information age and it is an operating manual to getting the most out of his music.

Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2013

Reviews

[Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this selectively, along with online articles, as I listened to Sony's "Complete Works of Stravinsky". The book is essential for a thorough study of Stravinsky's compositions. Scholarly but easy to understand & entertaining. This is in the series "A Listener's Companion" which, judging by this volume, is a reliable resource for music study.