HU 04: Picasso Unit Listening Notes for Stravinsky's ballet, The Rite of Spring

As Stravinky recalled the inspiration for his ballet The Rite of Spring (Le Sucre du printemps), "I had
dreamed a scene of pagan ritual in which a chosen sacrificial virgin dances herself to death." As with
many ballets, it does not so much tell a story as it presents a series of scenes that explore various themes,
in this case themes of primitivism, ritual, dance, life and death. The ballet is written in two parts, The
Adoration of the Earth and The Sacrifice. This listening assignment will focus on the first part only. Both
parts consist of subsections which follow one another continuously. Approximate timings are listed on
the left to help you keep track of the listening. Please use the space provided to jot down some observa-
tions to share in seminar. You may listen to the work in the Humanities Office where tapes are available,
or in Geisel Library where you can listen to tape (Side A) or to CD's 195 or 591.

Part 1: The Adoration of the Earth

0:00       Introduction

The opening melody, based on a Lithuanian folk song, is played in the very highest range
of the bassoon, giving it a remote and ethereal quality. Other instruments enter with
short melodic fragments leading to a noisy climax, after which the opening bassoon
melody returns. On stage, a group of young girls carrying a long garland is led to the
sacred mound by the Sage.

Does the opening melody sound like it is growing or expanding? Does it remind you of anything
on stage? How do the other instruments suggest awakening?

3:18       Dance of the Adolescents

This section is preceded by a ticking figure in the strings and is inaugurated by thick,
dissonant, accented chords in the same tempo. (This steady pulse is maintained by one
instrument or another throughout this section.) Short outbursts by the piccolos and
muted trumpets soon follow and other instruments enter with various kinds of melodic
figures. The French horns enter later with a more pleasant folk-like melody.

Are the accents regular or irregular, i.e., can you predict when they will occur? Can you predict
what instrument will enter next with what kind of melody? What effect does this have on you?
What sort of dance would you create to go with this music?

6:42       Game of Abduction

The steady pulse is interrupted by a loud chord and irregular strokes of a drum, followed
by frantic fragments of melody in various instruments. Fanfare-like melodic figures can
later be heard in the trumpets. The dance is based on a game played at Russian peasant
weddings in which young men lock arms in a circle to try to capture a girl.

The original French title of this section is Jeu de rapt. What primitive "ritual" underlies this game?
How does the music help depict this activity? Does it sound playful or brutal?

7:53       Spring Round Dance

A gentle melody is introduced by the clarinets with a sustained trill by the flutes in the
background. A regular rhythm is soon established over which various instruments play
a folk-like melody. Five small circles of dancers revolve slowly, then coalesce into a large
circle. After a wild interruption, the gentle clarinet melody and flute trill return.

Is the underlying regular rhythm light or heavy? Is it played by high or low instruments? Would
you have made these choices if you were trying to evoke spring? Would you use these choices if
you were trying to evoke the primitive?

11:30     Games of the Rival Cities

Loud brass and drums introduce a faster tempo as two groups of male dancers compete
in feats of strength and skill.

How does this section suggest two rival groups?

13:21     Procession of the Sage

This section is not very distinct from the previous one. Rather, a repeated melody is
introduced in the low brass and gradually leads to a climax.

Why does this section sound like a procession? Does it have any sense of ritual? How can you
tell the procession is approaching rather than leaving?

14:02     Adoration of the Earth

A sudden silence signals the moment when the Sage prostrates himself on the ground to
become one with the earth.

How does the music suggest the solemnity of the moment?

14:28     Dance of the Earth

Loud brass chords propel the dancers to their feet.

As this section progresses does it get faster or slower? Louder or softer? Does it come to a
satisfying close or does it stop suddenly? Which would sound more primitive?

In general, how does this ballet evoke primitivism?
How does it evoke ritual and dance?
How does it evoke life and death?