The Music of Stravinsky (Clarendon Paperbacks)

Stravinsky was one of the most original creative musicians of the twentieth century. In a career spanning six decades he composed a glittering sequence of works of astonishing diversity, from the three vividly colorful early Russian ballets, through the sharp wit and purity of his neo-classical scores and the powerful spirituality of works like the Symphony of Psalms and the Mass, to the highly individual application of serialism in the late works. This is a critical survey of Stravinsky's entire output in chronological order written in an accessible style for students, scholars, and all music lovers. Walsh draws on recent literature and the composer's own letters and sketches to provide fresh insights into Stavinsky's works. He argues persuasively that Stravinsky needs to be seen whole, and that the works are more closely connected in style and method than is generally acknowledged.