Experiencing Stravinsky

Hear the name ΓÇ£Igor StravinskyΓÇ¥ and the first thing that comes to mind is a composer of ponderous, ΓÇ£seriousΓÇ¥ music. But did you know that Stravinsky lived much of his life in Hollywood? That he collaborated on musical projects with Pablo Picasso and George Balanchine? That his work subtly espoused deeply held political views and reflected key literary influences? That he was not only interested in the modern communication technologies of his timeΓÇösound recording, radio, television, even early computersΓÇöbut wrote music that echoed their impact?In Experiencing Stravinsky, music historian Robin Maconie takes a fresh approach to understanding this great composerΓÇÖs works, explaining what makes StravinskyΓÇÖs sound unique and what we, as listeners, need to know in order to appreciate the variety and brilliance of his compositions. Experiencing Stravinsky is more than just another work of music appreciation. In the authorΓÇÖs deft hands, StravinskyΓÇÖs long musical career is a guided tour through 20th-century history, from Czarist Russia and two world wars to the height of the Hollywood era and the birth of the information age. Maconie has provided nothing less than an operating manual to getting the most out of StravinskyΓÇÖs music.