Musical Works
The Rite of Spring (Stravinsky, 1913)
Ballet score, Igor Stravinsky, premiered 29 May 1913, Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris
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A ballet score by Igor Stravinsky, composed 1911 to 1913 and premiered 29 May 1913 at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, subtitled "Pictures of Pagan Russia in Two Parts." The publisher's own catalogue quotes Stravinsky describing the scenario as a solemn pagan rite in which wise elders watch a young girl dance herself to death, sacrificed to propitiate the god of spring, and quotes collaborator Nicholas Roerich, an archaeologist and painter versed in Slavic folklore, describing his aim as scenes of earthly joy and celestial triumph "as understood by the Slavs." The work culminates in the Danse sacrale, the sacrificial dance.
Facts
Production
Release Year Primary Artist / Composer Subject Matter
Religious Subject MatterPagan Slavic ritual, sacrifice and the god of spring: the publisher's own catalogue programme note quotes the composer and his collaborator naming this outright as the ballet's subject. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Russia directly: "in Paris, subtitled "Pictures of Pagan Russia in Two Parts." The publisher's own catalogue quotes Stravinsky describing the scenario as a solemn pagan rite in which wise elders watch a young girl..."
This source names Slavs directly: "triumph "as understood by the Slavs." The work culminates in the Danse sacrale, the sacrificial dance."
Depicts
The publisher's own catalogue programme note quotes Stravinsky himself describing the ballet's scenario as a pagan rite propitiating the god of spring, and his collaborator Nicholas Roerich describing his aim as scenes understood "as the Slavs" understood them; no single deity or figure is named specifically enough in the publisher's own record to target individually, so the claim is carried on the tradition itself.
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