Petrushka (Stravinsky)
Movements
i Danse Russe ii Chez Petrouchka iii La Semaine Grasse iv Fugue
Notes
A Russian composer, pianist and conductor, later of French (from 1934) and American (from 1945) citizenship, Stravinsky is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century and a pivotal figure in modernist music. Three Movements from Petrushka for the solo piano were composed 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.
