Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A New Beginning
My last post did not give a lot of information of what I was doing, so here we go again!
Soon after Pucinella, I moved to France. In Paris, I met the beautiful Vera. I loved Katerina, but my loved for Vera consumed me. Vera was also married, but left the man to be with me. My poor wife knew of this affair but knew she could not do anything.
However, France was probably one of the unhappiest places I have lived in. My wife had of tuberculosis which infected my dear Ludmila. She died, and then my Katerina died. Lastly, my own mother died in a hospital. After Katerina’s death, I tried to spend time with my family and Vera.
When World War II began, Vera and I moved to the United States. This is off topic, but the Great War is now called World War I because now we have World War II. Will this fighting never end?
I feel bad for cheating on my dead wife, but what was I to do? I was trapped by love. This reminds me of the time I had with Coco Chanel. I have never told anyone about this, so read well.
A while back before I moved to France, I was introduced to Coco by Sergei. She had offered to let me and my family stay with her. I had accepted. Our relationship was passionate, artistic, and inspiring. She created Chanel No. 5, and my compositions were more free and fresh. When she told me that she loved my ballet, The Rite of Spring, from the first time she saw it, I thought, who else could be as perfect for me than her?
I am not sure what broke our incredible relationship, but if it did not, I am positive I would not have fallen in love with Vera. But, because we somehow separated, I now love Vera.
I hope to become a naturalized citizen here like I was in France. California interests me greatly, especially Los Angeles. There are new things to see and learn. There is so much culture, I just have to move there soon.
Because I am in America, where one can began anew, this is my last post. I know I am going to be a great success here as I have been in Europe, and you will hear of me more often. I am going to be known for generations to come! Goodbye, farewell, and maybe we will see each other one day.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Stability
The other day I spoke with Mussolini. He spoke with me for forty-five minutes. I felt very honored. We spoke of music, art, and politics. It seemed like we could talk for hours on end. I enjoyed myself so much that I told him I felt fascist.
His country also welcomes me and my music. Any country that does that is ought to be an amazing country. The people appreciate modern music, and it made me feel comfortable.
This reminds me of how opposite the Bolsheviks are. They are truly hateful. They caused so much trouble in my homeland and are still making a mess of things. I remember a time when they tried to change the writing system. Of course the conservatives, including myself, ignore this and write in the old style.
In Germany, my music is forbidden. Other modern art and music are forbidden. The Nazis tried to get rid of modern art and foreign performers. There was a time when I was eating out with a friend, Eric Schaal, and Nazis came in and shouted anti-Semetic remarks at us because Eric is a Jew. And, can you believe it? They thought I was a Jew too. Nazi Germany is a strange place… How could they not like my music? It is amazing! And, why are they so racist?
Trouble is brewing… I hope it will settle down soon.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
After the Great War
My family and I have been living in Switzerland since 1910. I had returned to Russia to research for my ballet, Les Noces (The Wedding) in 1914. When I came back, the war started, and I could not return back to my homeland.
With my friend, Charles Ramuz, we made a small traveling theater. I composed The Soldier’s Tale, which fit in with the situation the continent was in.
A couple of years later, the Russian Revolution started! Imagine my surprise! The war and revolution was too much to bear for me. It was awful… the killings… the conditions of the people… ugh…
Around the same time, I met Pablo Picasso in Italy. He is a fantastic artist! Genius next to me! He drew a picture of me, which was very well done. Let me tell you a funny story about this sketch. I had put it in my luggage that I was bringing back to Switzerland with me. A customs officer found the picture while inspecting my suitcase, and guess what he had thought it was. He thought it was a spy plan. A spy plan! Really? That idiot! I had to call in my friends at the British Embassy to identify me and get my portrait back.
Anyway, it is now 1920, and I am working on a new ballet, Pulcinella. The war has impacted me so much that the music of this ballet is in the style of the 18th century. I am just trying to forget it ever happened. The music is different from my usual works, but it is still beautiful. Pablo Picasso is also working on this ballet by creating the sets and costumes. I know he will do well.
I have to continue working. I will write when I can.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Update on Music Career
Hello everyone! It has been a while, I know. There has been so much going on. That is why I have not been able to write. I am going to tell you what has been going on these past years. In short, my music career has boomed! Let me start.
I few days after Nadezhda and Maximilian’s wedding, my dear mentor passed away. Oh! How sad I was… you would not know how devastated I was…
About a year later, one of Nikolai’s students heard my piece, Feu d’artifice. He was apparently impressed because he commissioned me to write music for a ballet, The Firebird. His name is Sergei Dighilev, and he is the director of the Ballet Russes. I have already written music for two ballets, Petruska and The Rite of Spring.
Oh my goodness! I had just blocked out this horrific event from yesterday… I just reminded myself by telling you its name… Darn! Since I have mentioned it, I should tell you about that terrible day.
The first concert of The Rite of Spring was in Paris… The music is unique and original! It is modern! It is different but… Anyway, at the start of the ballet, the animals whistled. They started to boo and argue with each other. Then, the beasts shouted and fought. The police came, but it did no good. I ran backstage, and Diaghilev tried to calm them down by turning off the lights. I was completely depressed… just absolutely miserable after that, but Diaghilev said it was just what he wanted.
I was confused, but it does not matter. This music was genius! No one can say anything but that.
By the way, I have two more beautiful children! Soulima is my second son, and Maria Milena is my second daughter. However, my wife has tuberculosis. I am worried.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
My Name is Igor Stravinsky
Hello fellow music lovers! My name is Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky. This is my first time on this… thing… called “Blogger”. Interesting is it not?
Anyway, let me introduce you to the beginnings of my life. I was born on June 17, 1882 to Fyodor Ignatievitch Stravinsky and Anna Kholodovsky, in Oranienbaum, Russa, which I believe is now Lomonosov. My father was a bass singer in St. Petersburg, which is where I was raised. Here began my passion for music; I had piano lessons, studied music theory, and tried to write some music. I had three brothers, Roman, Youry, and Goury, who was my favorite. He too loved music. Overall in my childhood, "I never came across anyone who had any real affection for me." My father was a very unpleasant person when I was not sick. Fortunately and sadly, I was often ill.
My first exposure to the orchestra was Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty. Oh! How wonderful it was! What genius! I was only eight, and yet I could understand the magnificence of it. Was I not brilliant?
I had such a passion for music, but my parents wanted me to be a lawyer. Me?! A lawyer?! Hmph! At 19, I attended the University of St. Petersburg to study law, but I studied music at the same time. Haha!A few years later, the university closed because of Bloody Sunday. It was a very grim day for everyone. At that time, food was scarce, and workers had gone to our beloved tsar’s palace. Those poor souls… the stupid soldiers fired on them thinking they were going to do something violent. This led to a series of strikes and revolts and other nasty things. How dare they cause more trouble for our beloved tsar?!
I was only able to have a “half” diploma because I could not take my law finals because of this event. It was also because I did not go to all of my classes.
Around the time of Bloody Sunday, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, one of the best musicians of Russia, gave me some advice to become his student.
Back to my teacher….his daughter Nadezda and Maximilian Steinberg are going to get married. They want to get married as quickly as possible because Nikolai is ill. He’s been ill for a while, and it pains me to see it. Is it not amazing how he was able to teach me and others and compose music while being ill? Again, he is an amazing person.
I wrote Feu d’artifice (Fireworks) as a wedding gift for the couple. I am sure they will love it. Nadezda is sure to enjoy it; she is the daughter of Nikolai who is a man of music. The piece is an orchestral fantasy and is pretty short, about five minutes, but it is excellent.
Did I mention I was married? Well, I am, to my cousin, Katerina Nossenko. At the moment, we have two wonderful children, Fyodor and Ludmilla.
Sorry, that must have been a lot of information for you to absorb. Well, that is it for now. Goodbye!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
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