Igor Stravinsky and his musical innovations

¶ … Firebird

The story of the Firebird is from an old Russian myth about a prince who finds a princess and confronts ancient mythological creatures to rescue her. Both survive with the help of the Firebird and find happiness. Igor Stravinsky scored his music for a very large orchestra, though today it is sometimes done by a smaller one, as he rewrote it in 1919 to reduce the number of required instruments in a normal symphony orchestra so that more people would perform it (Shoemaker, 18). Many people are familiar with the Firebird Suite, which is most often performed, since it does not require the large orchestra (Sherrane, 114). In this Suite, the brass, percussion and woodwinds are not used as they are not as noticeable. In the original version of the Firebird, for a large orchestra, these provide counterpoints and additional sounds (Stravinsky, 176).

The Introduction piece is slow and ominous, whether played by orchestra or in the piano version, it foretells a dark and dangerous tale.

Tableau (the Enchanted Garden of Kastchei)

The Tableau, which is the second movement of the Suite, depends upon a highly rhythmical motion forward while the rich texture of the orchestra allows the listener to sense the rich and complex structure of the music, in which harps and the celesta hint at a mystical landscape with exotic gardens and strange birds.

Appearance of the Firebird, Pursued by Prince Ivan

The tragic story begins as Prince Ivan is seen rapidly pursuing the flitting firebird in the garden of Kastchei, an evil sorcerer. In the musical score the humans are represented by "natural" or diatonic scales and the mythological characters by chromatic scales which emphasize flattened fifth scale degree.

Dance of the Firebird

In this fiery piece, the instruments duel and scurry through the piece with percussion almost dominating the sound. The Firebird dances with flitting and fluttering done by arpeggios and high notes played on an upper scale, while the lower ranges provide percussion at counterpoint.

Capture of the Firebird by Prince Ivan

This section provides the climax of the chase, leading up to the capture of the Firebird by Prince Ivan. When he catches it, the firebird, represented by fluttering arpeggios in the musical score, offers Ivan, represented by lower, more "normal" tones, one of its shining feathers of gold along with a pledge to protect him if he will only let him go. As Ivan has no choice, he agrees. Eventually, Prince Ivan will be glad of this, for later, together, the Firebird and Prince Ivan overcome evil-eyed demons and even Kastchei himself. Other characters in the ballet are a six-armed sorcerer, an ogre, a bunch of captive princesses and a huge egg.

Supplication of the Firebird

This section, in a lower range, is sad and pleading, as one can almost hear the Firebird crying.

Appearance of the Thirteen Enchanted Princesses

This section is a revelation piece, as the music, slow at first, "reveals" the fragile and delicate thirteen Princesses, who are held captive by the cruel Kastchei.

The Princesses' Game with the Golden Apples

In this section, the Prince sees the princesses playing a game with the Golden Apples from the tree in the garden. The music is rapid and light, as the princesses laugh and run about.

The Sudden Appearance of Prince Ivan

Prince Ivan appears suddenly to the Princesses and in this section you can see the Princesses trembling while a hesitant happiness begins to break in upon them.

Khorovod (Round Dance) of the Princesses

This was a popular Russian "Folk" song which Stravinsky admired and incorporated into his Suite. To Stravinsky's dismay, the song was copyrighted, so that he had to share the royalties with the Russian composer every time it was performed.

Daybreak - Prince Ivan Enters Kastchei's Palace

You can just hear the sun rising and the prince tiptoeing into the Palace during this section of the music, which uses trills and arpeggios in middle to upper ranges.

Magid Carillon - Appearance of Kastchei's Monster Guardians - Capture of Prince Ivan

The lower ranges almost overpower one's ears as one listens to the horrifying approach of the monster and the dread in which Prince Ivan feels his capture is imminent. The upper ranges depict the thrilling of the heart and the lower ranges the threats which surround the hapless Prince.

Arrival of Kastchei, the Immortal - Dialogue of Kastchei and Prince Ivan

The Horrible Kastchei appears, heralded by loud crashing percussion and then low and rhythmical, somber beats, followed by arpeggios and trills, countering each other, as the dialogue progresses and then becomes an argument.

Arrival and Intercession by the Firebird

The Firebird flies in, typified by high and rapid notes, as he arrives, followed by his pleading, a sweet singing and an obvious pleading and intercession on the part of Prince Ivan.

Dance of Kastchei's Retinue, Enchanted by the Firebird

As all are enchanted by the Firebird, they dance and respond to his fiery brilliance, depicted by trills and arpeggios.

King Kastchei's Infernal Dance by All his Subjects

One can hear the tromping and panting of the subjects as they dance faster and faster in response to the Firebird. The music becomes more and more rapid and sweet, yet is interrupted by loud beats of percussion and phrases of increasing threats.