"The Rite of Spring" (1913) is a ballet and orchestral concert work composed by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. The piece is known for its avant-garde style and its controversial premiere, which caused a riot among the audience.
Three important features of "The Rite of Spring" are:
1. Rhythm: The piece features complex and irregular rhythms, which were unusual for classical music at the time. Stravinsky used a technique called "ostinato," which involves repeating a short musical phrase over and over again with slight variations. This creates a sense of tension and excitement, as the rhythm builds and changes throughout the piece.
2. Tone color: Stravinsky used a large orchestra with a wide variety of instruments to create a rich and colorful sound. He also experimented with unusual combinations of instruments, such as the bassoon and contrabassoon, to create unique tone colors. The piece features many extended techniques, such as glissandos and pizzicato, which add to the unusual and innovative sound of the music.
3. Pitches: The piece features dissonant and atonal harmonies, which were also unusual for classical music at the time. Stravinsky used a technique called "polytonality," which involves layering multiple different keys on top of each other. This creates a sense of ambiguity and tension, as the listener is not always sure which key the music is in. The piece also features many sharp and angular melodies, which add to the sense of tension and excitement in the music.