Trois mouvements de Petrouchka
Encyclopedia
Trois mouvements de Petrouchka or Three Movements from Petrushka is an arrangement
for piano
of music from the ballet Petrushka by the 20th century composer Igor Stravinsky
for his friend and pianist Arthur Rubinstein
.
, Stravinsky's mentor, Serge Diaghilev, had expected Stravinsky would proceed with the composition of another dance work, The Rite of Spring
. The idea for such a work had occurred to Stravinsky while still working on Firebird, but Stravinsky felt the need to write something unrelated to the theater and conceived an orchestral work in which the piano would have a preponderant part: Stravinsky himself used the word Konzertstuck for the composition.
Stravinsky relates that he had in mind a distinct picture of a puppet who tried the patience of the orchestra with "diabolical cascades of arpeggios." In turn, the orchestra retaliates with trumpet blasts and after reaching a climax, the conflict ends with the collapse of the puppet. Stravinsky recalled that after completing the piece, he searched vainly for an appropriate name for his puppet until he remembered Petrushka
, a popular hero of country fairs everywhere.
In the fall of 1910, Diaghilev came to visit Stravinsky who at that time was living in Lausanne, Switzerland, expecting to hear the beginning of The Rite of Spring
, but instead was greeted with Petrouchka. Diaghilev immediately recognized the possibilities of developing this orchestral work into a full length stage work. Thus, the concert piece became the second part of the ballet, Petrouchka, a burlesque in four scenes. The full score was completed on May 11, 1911, and on the following June 3, Petrouchka was performed by Diaghilev's Ballet Russe in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet under the baton of Pierre Monteux
.
Three Movements from Petrouchka for the solo piano were composed ten years later for his friend, pianist Arthur Rubinstein
, and are dedicated to him. Stravinsky is very explicit in stating that the movements are not transcriptions. He was not trying to reproduce the sound of the orchestra, but instead wished to compose a score which would be essentially pianistic even though its musical material was drawn directly from the ballet. Stravinsky also wanted to create a work which would encourage pianists to play his music, but it should be one in which they could display their technique, an objective he amply achieved.
The first movement, Danse Russe, is drawn from the closing part of the first scene of the ballet. The next part, Chez Pétrouchka, is the second scene of the stage, while the final movement, La semaine grasse, includes the whole of the fourth scene up to the end of the Masqueraders section to which Stravinsky added an ending which he later incorporated in his 1947 revised version of the ballet for concert performances.
He completed the three movements in August 1921 at Anglet, France.
) was to attempt to influence Arthur Rubinstein
into playing his music. In order to gain the latter's attention, Stravinsky ensured that Rubinstein would find the arrangement technically challenging but musically satisfying. Trois mouvements de Petrouchka reflects the composer's intentions, and unsurprisingly, it is renowned for its notorious technical and musical difficulties. All three movements include wild and rapid jumps which span over two octaves, complex polyrhythms, extremely fast scales, multiple glissandos, and tremolos.
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
of music from the ballet Petrushka by the 20th century composer Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
for his friend and pianist Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
.
History
Upon completing the ballet, The FirebirdThe Firebird
The Firebird is a 1910 ballet created by the composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Michel Fokine. The ballet is based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird of the same name that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor....
, Stravinsky's mentor, Serge Diaghilev, had expected Stravinsky would proceed with the composition of another dance work, The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
. The idea for such a work had occurred to Stravinsky while still working on Firebird, but Stravinsky felt the need to write something unrelated to the theater and conceived an orchestral work in which the piano would have a preponderant part: Stravinsky himself used the word Konzertstuck for the composition.
Stravinsky relates that he had in mind a distinct picture of a puppet who tried the patience of the orchestra with "diabolical cascades of arpeggios." In turn, the orchestra retaliates with trumpet blasts and after reaching a climax, the conflict ends with the collapse of the puppet. Stravinsky recalled that after completing the piece, he searched vainly for an appropriate name for his puppet until he remembered Petrushka
Petrushka
Petrouchka or Petrushka is a ballet with music by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, composed in 1910–11 and revised in 1947....
, a popular hero of country fairs everywhere.
In the fall of 1910, Diaghilev came to visit Stravinsky who at that time was living in Lausanne, Switzerland, expecting to hear the beginning of The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring
The Rite of Spring, original French title Le sacre du printemps , is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky; choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky; and concept, set design and costumes by Nicholas Roerich...
, but instead was greeted with Petrouchka. Diaghilev immediately recognized the possibilities of developing this orchestral work into a full length stage work. Thus, the concert piece became the second part of the ballet, Petrouchka, a burlesque in four scenes. The full score was completed on May 11, 1911, and on the following June 3, Petrouchka was performed by Diaghilev's Ballet Russe in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet under the baton of Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux was an orchestra conductor. Born in Paris, France, Monteux later became an American citizen.-Life and career:Monteux was born in Paris in 1875. His family was descended from Sephardi Jews who came to France in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. He studied violin from an early age,...
.
Three Movements from Petrouchka for the solo piano were composed ten years later for his friend, pianist Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
, and are dedicated to him. Stravinsky is very explicit in stating that the movements are not transcriptions. He was not trying to reproduce the sound of the orchestra, but instead wished to compose a score which would be essentially pianistic even though its musical material was drawn directly from the ballet. Stravinsky also wanted to create a work which would encourage pianists to play his music, but it should be one in which they could display their technique, an objective he amply achieved.
The first movement, Danse Russe, is drawn from the closing part of the first scene of the ballet. The next part, Chez Pétrouchka, is the second scene of the stage, while the final movement, La semaine grasse, includes the whole of the fourth scene up to the end of the Masqueraders section to which Stravinsky added an ending which he later incorporated in his 1947 revised version of the ballet for concert performances.
He completed the three movements in August 1921 at Anglet, France.
Structure
Stravinsky's goal in arranging Petrushka for the piano (along with Piano-Rag-MusicPiano-Rag-Music
Piano-Rag-Music is a composition for piano solo by Igor Stravinsky, written in 1919.Stravinsky, who had, by that time, emigrated to France after his studies with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia, was confronted with American jazz combos actively influential in Europe...
) was to attempt to influence Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
into playing his music. In order to gain the latter's attention, Stravinsky ensured that Rubinstein would find the arrangement technically challenging but musically satisfying. Trois mouvements de Petrouchka reflects the composer's intentions, and unsurprisingly, it is renowned for its notorious technical and musical difficulties. All three movements include wild and rapid jumps which span over two octaves, complex polyrhythms, extremely fast scales, multiple glissandos, and tremolos.
Movements
- Danse russe (Russian Dance)
- Chez Pétrouchka (Petrushka's Room)
- La semaine grasse (The Shrovetide Fair; Mardi Gras)