The Rite of Spring

The Rite of Spring is a ballet written by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, which debuted in May 1913. Though its premiere caused a riot, it remains one of Stravinsky's most famous pieces.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Story
* 2.1 Part 1: The Adoration of the Earth
* 2.2 Part 2: The Sacrifice
* 3 Legacy
* 4 Instrumentation
* 5 References

## History[edit]

Diaghilev knew that Parisian audiences were fascinated by Russian culture, which made Paris the perfect place for his 'Ballets Russes.' He created a new ballet company built on the Parsain fascination with old Russia. It featured the exotic, the erotic, and the occult. For its first season, the Ballets Russes had astonished the world. For the second season, he promised a daring new ballet. This was when he turned to Stravinsky. Stravinsky then wrote what we know as The Firebird, which was a huge success.

For the next ballet, Stravinsky wanted to bring music back to the origins of dance. He summered in Ustilug frequently, where he was exposed to the old Russian culture that thrived in the surrounding country home. In the villages, people celebrated with music, made with whatever they had -voices, hands, feet, and homemade instruments. The result was a wild, enthusiastic mixture of song and noise.

In Starvinsky's own words:

> 'I had a fleeting vision that came to me as a complete surprise...I saw in imagination a solemn pagan rite: sage elders, seated in a circle, watching a young girl dance herself to death. They were sacrificing her to propitiate the god of spring.'

When Stravinsky played the Rite of Spring for the first time for Diaghilev, Diaghilev wanted to know how long it would be like that (as in chaotic and not harmonic). Stravinsky simply responded 'until the end, my dear.'

The Rite of Spring debuted at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on May 29, 1913, to an audience accusted to the grace, elegance, and traditional music of what was termed 'conventional ballets.' Opposition to the Rite of Spring began just as the first few minutes of the piece as the audience booed loudly in response to the inharmonic notes which accompanied the bassoon solo, which was so high that the audience didn't even know what instrument they were listening to. The work's unconventional music, and unnatural choreography (which had the dancers dancing with bent arms and legs, and would land so hard on the floor that their internal organs would shake), and the Russian pagan setting, failed to win over the majority of the audience.

As the ballet progressed, so did the audience's discomfort. Those who liked the ballet argued with those who did. The arguments eventually turned into brawls, and the police had to be notified. They arrived at intermission and successfully calmed to crowd. As the second half commenced, the police were unable to control the audience and subsequently rioting resumed. Stravinsky was so shocked by the audience's reaction, that he fled the scene before the show was over.

## Story[edit]

### Part 1: The Adoration of the Earth[edit]

The curtain rises to reveal young men and women in separate groups. They are in primate surroundings, dominated by the dark forces of nature. At first the dancers are light hearted, but they slowly change to more aggressive choreography. The young men take the possession of the women offstage. A fight ensues until a wise old man makes peace. There is silence, then the men throw themselves on the ground in worship, rise again, and start a more frenzied dance.

### Part 2: The Sacrifice[edit]

The young women are standing on the stage near a fire, one of them will be chose as a sacrifice to the Earth. The chose one stands alone and sill in the middle of the stage after a mystical dance, and the young members of the tribe gather around her and dance in brutal excitement. Finally, the chose one joins them and the dancing becomes more and more violent until the maiden falls exhausted and dies. The men the carry her over to the sacred tone and prostrate themselves. The rite is over.

## Legacy[edit]

In spite of the riot (or maybe even because of it), the Rite of Spring changed ballet forever. Before the Rite of Spring, ballets were beautiful, elegant, and charming. Now it is considered a milestone in ballet's history, and has become a regular repertoire.

The Rite of Spring was featured in the Walt Disney movie Fantasia, where it was played during the part of the film depicting evolution.

The Rite of Spring has inspired other composers such as John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith.

## Instrumentation[edit]

The Rite of Spring includes:

* 2 piccolos
* 3 flutes
* alto flute
* 4 English horns
* E flat clarinet
* 3 clarinets
* 2 bass clarinets
* 4 bassoons
* 2 contrabassoons
* 8 French horns
* D piccolo trumpet
* 4 trumpets
* 3 trombones
* 3 tubas
* 8 timpani
* bass drum
* triangle
* antique cymbals
* strings

## References[edit]

* 1\. http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/20thcenturymusic/qt/rite-or-spring.htm
* 2\. https://www.pbs.org/keepingscore/stravinsky-rite-of-srping.html
* 3\. https://www.npr.org/programs/specials/milestones/991110.motm.riteofspring.html
* 4\. http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/music/kamien/student/olc/28.htm
* 5\. http://www.good-music-guide.com/reviews/068_rite_of_spring.htm
* 6\. http://www.allmusic.com/composition/stravinsky-in-his-own-words-interview-mc0002416295