History and Analysis

History and analysis

Firebird by Stravinsky

Debuted in 1910, a Russian folk tale about a bird by the same name. This was the first of three great works that Stravinsky published in a matter of four years’ time and considered to be his breakthrough piece. Largely orchestrated and very intense overall Stravinsky later in his life thought it was overdone. It was originally commissioned to be done by composer Anatoly Lyadov and for some reason he backed out and it was transferred to Stravinsky who was only 28 at the time.

In this excerpt the melody is in 7/4 with a 2 bar melody that is repeated and then the last measure is also repeated for a large broad statement.

Beethoven’s Symphony no. 1, 4th movement

This work was published in 1801, but found sketches in 1795 and not sure when it was originally written. This is for sure his work with the sforzandi throughout the piece. This piece is considered to be a musical joke and that it may have been intended that way and may have only been an original experimentation. Beethoven uses a set of dominant and tonic chords to gradually reveal the key of the actual work. Every movement has something of a joke where the menuetto is played so fast that it should probably be marked scherzo. The finale starts as an adagio and then breaks into an allegro vivace with running scales and then ending with a large V-I cadence.

Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5, 1st movement

I actually did get to see this performed by the LPO earlier this year. This is most likely the most recognized work out of all symphony or classical music. This piece opens with a loud fortisisimo and is shadowed with imitation and contrasting piano markings until making the final statement again in this excerpt. This work is comprised of four movements with the first being a sonata. Opening with the four note motif and then building on this thought as it passes through many keys before returning to the recapituation is the original sonata. However,...