Igor Fyodorovitch Stravinsky

Igor Fyodorovitch Stravinsky (1882–1971) was one of the leading composers of the 20th century. Born in Russia, he later worked extensively in France and the United States. He gained international fame through the ballets The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, whose striking rhythms, shifting accents, and vivid orchestration opened new possibilities in modern music. His style changed considerably over the course of his career: from an early language rooted in Russian musical color, through Neoclassicism’s reinterpretation of older forms, to a later engagement with serial and twelve-tone techniques. His piano music reflects this diversity. In Three Movements from Petrushka, demanding virtuosity is combined with bold harmonic and rhythmic writing. The Three Easy Pieces and Five Easy Pieces, as well as the early Four Études, Op. 7, reveal his distinctive rhythmic sense and interest in instrumental color even within concise forms.