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Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was a Russian-born composer, pianist, and conductor who is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century.

Stravinsky's compositional career was notable for its stylistic diversity. He first achieved international fame with three ballets commissioned by the impresario Serge Diaghilev and first performed in Paris by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes: The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911) and the Rite of Spring (1913). The last of these transformed the way in which subsequent composers thought about rhythmic structure and was largely responsible for Stravinsky's enduring reputation as a musical revolutionary.

His "Russian phase" which continued with works such as Renard, the Soldier's Tale and Les Noces, was followed in the 1920s by a period in which he turned to neoclassical music. The works from this period tended to make use of traditional musical forms, drawing on earlier styles, especially from the 18th century.

In the 1950s, Stravinsky adopted serial procedures. His compositions of this period shared traits with examples of his earlier output: rhythmic energy, the construction of extended melodic ideas out of a few two- or three-note cells and clarity of form, and of instrumentation. Stravinsky was considered a family man and devoted to his children, he was also a devout member of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Born 17th June 1882 in St. Peterburg, Russia
Died 6th April 1971 in New York City, United States

Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal.

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