TITLE: Concerto for Piano and Winds (1924)

COMPOSER: Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Igor Stravinsky was a native from Oranienbaum, Russia. Stravinsky went through many style changes throughout his career, moving from a subjective style to an objective one. Stravinsky has three major style periods. His Russian Period spans from 1882-1922. During this time, he studied with Rimsky-Korsakov and became close friends with Sergi Diagilev of the Russian Ballet Company (based in Paris), who he collaborated with regarding his three early ballets, Firebird, Petroushka and Rite of Spring. He used many Russian themes with programmatic titles during this compositional period. His Neoclassical Period begins in 1923 while he lived in Paris. It was during this time that he was very concerned with form, composing many work in sonata form. Even the titles of these works were neoclassical. He composed the wind Octet, Symphony of Psalms and Concerto for Piano and Winds during this era. Stravinsky moved to the United States in 1940 where he taught composition at the University of Southern California. In 1951, Stravinsky began his 12-Tone style period with works such as Agon (1953), an abstract ballet with twelve dances.

MOVEMENTS: Three

1. Largo, Allegro
2. Largo, Piu mosso, Tempo primo
3. Allegro

PERFORMANCE TIME: 19' 00"

INSTRUMENTATION: 25 Instruments and Solo Piano

• 1 Piano, 1 Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 1 English Horn, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 1 Contra Bassoon, 4 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 3 Trombones, 1 Tuba, Timpani, 1 Contra Bass.

EDITIONS: Rental

• Boosey and Hawkes - 200 Smith Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735

http://www.booseyandhawkes.com/musicshop/acatalog/

COMPOSITION SKETCH AND MUSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

In the winter of 1923-1924, shortly after Stravinsky moved to Paris, he began working on his Concerto for Piano and Winds. The premiere took place in Paris in 1924. The premiere of the work featured Koussevitszky as the conductor and Stravinsky as the piano soloist. The American debut occurred on January 23, 1925 with the Boston Symphony. Stravinsky was the only soloist of his work until 1929. Stravinsky during an interview says:

"I remember that I was reproached on the subject of the constitution of the orchestra, which was said to be "incomplete" because of the absence of strings (except for the double bass). The unfortunate critic did not know at the time that there is such a thing as un orchestre d'harmonie. It is this orchestre d'harmonie (the concert band) which I have chosen for my piano concerto, and not the symphonic orchestra, as an instrumental body more appropriate for the tone of the piano. Strings and piano, a sound scraped and a sound struck, do not sound well together. Where as piano and winds, a sound struck and blown, do sound good together."

Quote by Igor Stavinsky

SELECTED RECORDINGS:

RELATED WEBSITES:

Stravinsky Biography - http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/stravnsk.html

Life and Works of Stravinsky - http://www.ozemail.com.au/~caveman/Stravinsky/

Internet Public Library Page on Stravinsky - http://www.ipl.org/exhibit/mushist/twen/stravinsky.htm