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Chapter 42
Igor Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring, Part One
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
Polytonal Harmonies
Pentatonic Melodies
Irregular and Regular Rhythms
Historical Context: The Business of Dance
Unsung Words: The Scenario
Connect Your Playlist: Ostinato
Profile: Igor Stravinsky (1882 1971)
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
The Rite of Spring as a ballet.
42.3 Define pentatonic.
42.5 Describe the size and make-up of the orchestra and listen for the timbre
of key instruments.
Key Concepts
polytonality, metrical irregularity, pentatonic melodies, instruments of the
modern orchestra
Chapter Highlight: Modernism
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Chapter Summary
independent genre. His The Rite of Spring (1913) tells a story from ancient Russia involving
elders, young girls, and ultimately human sacrifice. Stravinsky chose to tell this story in
strikingly new ways. The harmony at times is polytonal but at others is based on the pentatonic
provocative aspects of The
Listening Guide
Each scenario is titled in the score, and students should be directed to consider what these
scenes might look like. These serve as a guide throughout. Even though the orchestra is large,
Stravinsky wrote for combinations that are easily recognizable students might be able to
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide: Igor Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, Part One (excerpt)
Chapter Audio: Chapter 42
Animated Graphical Score: Igor Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, Part One (excerpt)
Animated Notation: Polytonal Harmonies
Read
Watch: Inside the Orchestra (20th Century)
Profile: Igor Stravinsky (1882 1971)
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Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
1. Both The Rite of Spring –
or
orchestra.
Activities and Exercises
1. Find a performance of the ballet for students to watch. Before viewing, ask what they think a
2. Assign different sections of The Rite of Spring to groups of students. Ask them to work out
the main rhythms and imitate them while the work is played aloud. Are some sections easier
to follow than others? Ask students to analyze which are simpler and why.
Journaling Prompt
Rite of Spring is
almost as well known as the piece itself. What do you think caused the riot to break out?
Rite of Spring with a style called