Customer Reviews

Stravinsky

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful monument to the life of one of the great composers. He is significant to us not only for the body of works he left us, and it is considerable, but also because he lived in our time - or near it for you younger folks. He died in 1971 and was still writing something as wonderful as the "Requiem Canticles" as late as 1965-66.

This book is full of pictures from his life. We get rare glimpses not only at him and those with whom he lived is life, but artifacts such as posters, drafts of works, scores, even a picture of Stravinsky playing the piano in concert. One of my favorites is the master in a hotel nightclub at the piano working on the important but rarely performed "Threni". Or the sheet with the various versions of the row that is the source for the "Septet". I mean how cool is that?

The text is surely by Robert Craft. While he and Stravinsky's widow author the book, Vera, it really has to be the work of Craft. I tell you that I feel ever grateful to that man for the support he gave Stravinsky that allowed him to have the energy and support to compose his later works (those after "The Rake's Progress).

This book is not inexpensive, but for those of us who revere Stravinsky, there is no substitute for your library.