GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => The Polling Station => Topic started by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 07:02:41 AM

Title: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 07:02:41 AM
It appears the old thread is on lockdown and no one can post in it any longer. So I'll start a new one!

Here are my favorite Stravinsky works (and yes, it's more than 10):

In no particular order -

Apollon musagète
Orpheus
Agon
Le sacre du printemps
Pulcinella
Le Baiser de la fée
Les noces
Duo concertant
Mass
Symphony of Psalms
Canticum Sacrum ad Honorem Sancti Marci Nominis
Requiem Canticles
Piano Sonata
Serenade in A
Sonata for Two Pianos
Three Pieces for String Quartet
Three Songs from William Shakespeare
Pribaoutki
Three Japanese Lyrics
Two Poems of K. Balmont
Faun and Shepherdess
Epitaphium
Symphonies d'instruments à vent
Violin Concerto
Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
Concerto in E-flat, "Dumbarton Oaks"
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Crudblud on March 24, 2021, 07:52:45 AM
Off the top of my head:

L'histoire du soldat (suite)
Agon
Violin Concerto
Petrushka
Scènes de ballet
Requiem Canticles
Symphony in Three Movements
Ebony Concerto
Basel Concerto
Variations (in memoriam Aldous Huxley)

Or something like that...

Honourable mentions:

Threni
Praeludium for Jazz Band
Dumbarton Oaks
Three Japanese Lyrics
Anthem "The dove descending breaks the air"
Pulcinella
Tango
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 07:57:00 AM
Quote from: Crudblud on March 24, 2021, 07:52:45 AM
Off the top of my head:

L'histoire du soldat (suite)
Agon
Violin Concerto
Petrushka
Scènes de ballet
Requiem Canticles
Symphony in Three Movements
Ebony Concerto
Basel Concerto
Variations (in memoriam Aldous Huxley)

Or something like that...

Honourable mentions:

Threni
Praeludium for Jazz Band
Dumbarton Oaks
Three Japanese Lyrics
Anthem "The dove descending breaks the air"
Pulcinella
Tango

This could've been my list, too! :) I mean I really have had trouble finding a Stravinsky work that I simply dislike.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Crudblud on March 24, 2021, 08:27:17 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 07:57:00 AM
This could've been my list, too! :) I mean I really have had trouble finding a Stravinsky work that I simply dislike.
I will say that the Rite has never done anything for me, but generally I agree with you. I could comb through my collection and—while I doubt it would make an impact on the list proper—probably double, triple, quadruple the "honourable mentions".
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: (poco) Sforzando on March 24, 2021, 08:38:32 AM
Who's counting, but ten off the top of my head, including some not mentioned above:

Agon
Symphony of Psalms
Les Noces
Le Rossignol
Renard
The Rake's Progress
Petrushka
Apollo
The Rite of Spring
Jeu de Cartes
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: ritter on March 24, 2021, 10:32:35 AM
Let's see, let's see....

In no particular order:

Les Noces
Symphonies d'instruments à vent
Agon
Canticum Sacrum
Variations for Orchestra, Aldous Huxley in Memoriam
Concerto in E flat, 'Dumbarton Oaks'
Requiem Canticles
Petrouchka
Pulcinella
Septet


Yep, that makes 10 (and there'd be a whole bunch of honourable mentions  ;)).
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Symphonic Addict on March 24, 2021, 11:58:07 AM
Symphony of Psalms
Violin Concerto
Le sacre du printemps
Scherzo Fantastique
Petrushka
Symphony in three movements
Mass
Les noces
Suite italienne
Concerto for chamber orchestra Dumbarton Oaks
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 12:05:31 PM
I suppose I'll narrow mine down to 10 (in no particular order):

Orpheus
Apollon musagète
Pulcinella
Agon
Duo concertant
Mass
Symphonies d'instruments à vent
Three Pieces for String Quartet
Concerto in E-flat, "Dumbarton Oaks"
Violin Concerto
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Daverz on March 24, 2021, 12:13:19 PM
Petrouchka
Pulcinella
Violin Concerto
Soldier's Tale Suite (tired of the full thing)
Le Noces
Symphony of Psalms
Dumbarton Oaks
Agon
Le Sacre

Perhaps one of the later austere works like Threni or Requiem Canticles.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Brian on March 24, 2021, 12:53:36 PM
Petrushka
Three Movements from Petrushka
Jeu de cartes

and yes, I will cast the first vote in this thread for ... the Firebird!
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 01:48:37 PM
Quote from: Brian on March 24, 2021, 12:53:36 PM
Petrushka
Three Movements from Petrushka
Jeu de cartes

and yes, I will cast the first vote in this thread for ... the Firebird!

Not much of a Stravinsky fan, eh?
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Brahmsian on March 24, 2021, 02:30:07 PM
I've never understood the attraction to Les Noces. You must be a vocal music fan to enjoy this. I don't enjoy it in any way, shape or form. I just listened to it again to see if my thoughts would change, but nope.

Favourite works:

Petruska
The Rite of Spring
Firebird
Violin Concerto
Danses Concertantes
Apollo
Orpheus
Symphony in C
Symphony in Three Movements
Scènes de Ballet
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 02:35:03 PM
Quote from: OrchestralNut on March 24, 2021, 02:30:07 PM
I've never understood the attraction to Les Noces. You must be a vocal music fan to enjoy this. I don't enjoy it in any way, shape or form. I just listened to it again to see if my thoughts would change, but nope.

I like it because of it's quirkiness and just how bizarre it is, but the instrumentation is also rather attractive to me. The vocal writing reminds of Janáček and Bartók (esp. in Three Village Scenes), but then there is Martinů's Špalíček, which could be viewed a compositional cousin of sorts to Les noces.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Wanderer on March 24, 2021, 03:03:07 PM
Les noces
L'Oiseau de feu
Pétrouchka
Trois mouvements de Pétrouchka
Le Sacre du printemps
Apollon musagète
Agon
Jeu de cartes
Symphony in Three Movements
Symphony of Psalms



Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Brian on March 24, 2021, 03:20:26 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 01:48:37 PM
Not much of a Stravinsky fan, eh?
Not really. There's some great stuff for violin and piano, but I forgot the name so I didn't include it.  ;D
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 03:53:04 PM
Quote from: Brian on March 24, 2021, 03:20:26 PM
Not really. There's some great stuff for violin and piano, but I forgot the name so I didn't include it.  ;D

I'd definitely like to read your reasons as to why you're not a fan. Is there an aesthetic quality that you can't appreciate? For me, he's simply one of the greatest composers that ever walked this planet.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Uhor on March 24, 2021, 04:06:09 PM
In the order I feel like today and highlighted some just not to forget them.


1.Pétrouchka

2.Le Sacre du printemps

3.Three Pieces for String Quartet

4.Elégie For Viola Solo

5.Le roi des étoiles

6.Three Japanese Lyrics

7.Dumbarton Oaks

8.Agon

9.Cantata

10.Mass
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 04:12:23 PM
Quote from: Uhor on March 24, 2021, 04:06:09 PM
In the order I feel like today and highlighted some just not to forget them.


1.Pétrouchka

2.Le Sacre du printemps

3.Three Pieces for String Quartet

4.Elégie For Viola Solo

5.Le roi des étoiles

6.Three Japanese Lyrics

7.Dumbarton Oaks

8.Agon

9.Cantata

10.Mass

A fine list, Uhor. Cantata, Le roi des étoiles and Three Japanese Lyrics are works that don't get mentioned too often. I also like the Elegy. A lovely work.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Old San Antone on March 24, 2021, 04:18:54 PM
In the order I think of them, not ranked as favorites.

Symphony of Psalms
Agon
Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Histoire du soldat Suite
Violin Concerto
Duo Concertant for Violin and Piano
Renard
Tango
Canticum Sacrum
Introitus (T. S. Eliot in Memoriam)
Requiem Canticles
Mass
Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
Elegy for J.F.K.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Brahmsian on March 24, 2021, 04:55:17 PM
Quote from: OrchestralNut on March 24, 2021, 02:30:07 PM
I've never understood the attraction to Les Noces. You must be a vocal music fan to enjoy this. I don't enjoy it in any way, shape or form. I just listened to it again to see if my thoughts would change, but nope.

Favourite works:

Petruska
The Rite of Spring
Firebird
Violin Concerto
Danses Concertantes
Apollo
Orpheus
Symphony in C
Symphony in Three Movements
Scènes de Ballet

I forgot to fit in Jeu de cartes

Definitely in my top ten.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 05:27:02 PM
Quote from: Old San Antone on March 24, 2021, 04:18:54 PM
In the order I think of them, not ranked as favorites.

Symphony of Psalms
Agon
Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Histoire du soldat Suite
Violin Concerto
Duo Concertante
Renard
Tango
Canticum Sacrum
Introitus (T. S. Eliot in Memoriam)
Requiem Canticles
Mass
Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
Elegy for J.F.K.

Great list, San Antone. Canticum Sacrum and Introitus (T. S. Eliot in Memoriam) are quite special works I must say.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 05:28:21 PM
Quote from: ritter on March 24, 2021, 10:32:35 AM
Let's see, let's see....

In no particular order:

Les Noces
Symphonies d'instruments à vent
Agon
Canticum Sacrum
Variations for Orchestra, Aldous Huxley in Memoriam
Concerto in E flat, 'Dumbarton Oaks'
Requiem Canticles
Petrouchka
Pulcinella
Septet


Yep, that makes 10 (and there'd be a whole bunch of honourable mentions  ;)).

A list I could've very well made myself.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Brian on March 26, 2021, 06:09:28 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 24, 2021, 03:53:04 PM
I'd definitely like to read your reasons as to why you're not a fan. Is there an aesthetic quality that you can't appreciate? For me, he's simply one of the greatest composers that ever walked this planet.
Eh, I don't know. He went through a lot of phases and styles, so it's probably not too strange that I like some of them more than others? In this case, apparently I like the Russian romantic, French ballet, and neoclassicist styles more than the primitivist, eclectic/jazz absorber, etc.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 26, 2021, 06:15:08 AM
Quote from: Brian on March 26, 2021, 06:09:28 AM
Eh, I don't know. He went through a lot of phases and styles, so it's probably not too strange that I like some of them more than others? In this case, apparently I like the Russian romantic, French ballet, and neoclassicist styles more than the primitivist, eclectic/jazz absorber, etc.

If you like the Russian and Neoclassical Periods more than his Serialist Period then I would think you'd choose more works than you did. Have you done a deep dive into his oeuvre to see if there's anything else within those periods that you mentioned that you might enjoy?
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: (poco) Sforzando on March 26, 2021, 06:36:17 AM
Am I the only person who loves The Rake's Progress?
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: Mirror Image on March 26, 2021, 06:53:57 AM
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on March 26, 2021, 06:36:17 AM
Am I the only person who loves The Rake's Progress?

I really enjoy this opera a lot as well.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: kyjo on April 02, 2021, 10:07:43 AM
In some sort of order:

L'oiseau de feu
Symphony of Psalms
Petrushka
Le sacre du printemps
Suite italienne for violin or cello and piano
Symphony in Three Movements
Jeu de cartes
Divertimento for violin and piano
Scherzo fantastique
Violin Concerto
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: vandermolen on April 06, 2021, 02:05:43 AM
The Rite of Spring
Firebird
Symphony of Psalms
Orpheus

Er..that's it.
I find a lot of his music rather arid.
Title: Re: Top 10 Favorite Stravinsky Works
Post by: MusicTurner on April 06, 2021, 02:38:11 AM
A fairly stable list, as far as I'm concerned:

Petrouchka
Sacre
Firebird
Agon
Orpheus
Symphony in 3 Movements
Psalm Symphony
Capriccio for piano and orchestra
Variations for Orchestra
Ebony Concerto

There are about 10 other works I really like as well, including Song of the Nightingale, Apollon Musagete, Movements, Concerto for Strings ... I'm less into for example the violin and piano concertos, and the violin chamber and the piano music.