The Rite of Spring?

Agreed. Orfeo is brilliant, especially in terms of orchestration (you have to hear it performed on period instruments to truly appreciate it). It's even more special considering that before Monteverdi's time orchestration was not given much thought (instruments were not even specified in a score).

Anyway, back to the Rite. There's a fair amount of discussion of the Rite in Alex Ross' book The Rest Is Noise, if anyone's interested. The only downside is that the info feels haphazardly strewn across a few chapters.

I'll have to check that book out.

I just heard the Rite of Spring today for the first time: I have to say, I'm impressed! It's really cool ;) I favorited the video on YouTube.

Have you ever watched "Fantasia"?

The part with the dinosaurs and lava and whatever else has The Rite Of Spring as the music.

The Rite Of Spring... is I think, one of the world's greatest pieces of music.

Speaking of which.... *goes and listens to the video*

I think Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is a masterpiece among 20th century works. Only a genius would compose a piece so crazy, and so out of control. Some movements are so insanely scattered with different and

unfamiliar meters that in order for one instrument to play its part correctly it relies not on the it own score, but on what each other instrument is playing. The Rite of Spring has also influenced many other works. The sound of the pulsating strings in the 2nd movement can also be found in multiple parts in the score for Star Wars composed by John Williams. Williams also incorporated some of the instrument combinations in the score of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Ever since its premiere, Rite of Spring was influential. The riot that formed during its 35 minute performance was caused by the audience's belief that Stravinsky's composition was the music of the devil. In a way, you can say it is. But, if we don't know the devil, than how could we know what his music sounds like. The devil probably listen to the pleasant sounds of Mozart all day and we don't even know it. :lol:

In conclusion, Stravinsky had a stroke of genius that is replicated more than often. (In fact, I actually attempted rewriting my Symphony No.1 but it ended up sounding just like The Rite of Spring! :blink: and I eventually gave up rewriting it.) But the true sound and feel of Stravinsky's masterpiece will never ,in the history of earth, be perfectly replicated.

And if you have never heard the piece before, find a full recording (and to make the experience better) and get a score for it, too. Take a listen!! :phones:

-Jared :happy: :blink: (I just realized I accidentally stole Tokkemon's Quote:is a masterpiece among 20th century works.

I don't think that it's a masterpiece. It is extremely well crafted, and Stravinsky's got ridiculous skills and ideas, but I don't think it's a masterpiece. It's like he wrote the score so that nobody would know what it meant except for him. But, why is Rite a masterpiece, but Petrouchka and Firebird are not? He uses a lot of the same material and process in all of these pieces.