Igor Stravinsky: Firebird

While every piece at the Friday night concert was extremely well done, none stood out more than the Stravinsky piece called Firebird. It was significantly different than classical music of the past. There was so much emotion and drama in this music, it was truly amazing to listen to. The church that the concert was at was the perfect setting for the music. Every note was clear and sounded throughout the entire hall. Stravinsky effortlessly broke from classical music and put his own personal twist into the music. Its no wonder that Stravinsky was so successful, and why this piece, when it was first introduced, was so popular.

The piece opened quietly, with a single eerie melody and a tremelo from the violins in the background. This create a very haunting, almost sad tone at the beginning of the piece. The tremelos creating a very interesting harmony throughout the first section of the score. I really loved how the horn came in again midway through with a quiet melody. With the entrance of the harp and flutes into the ensemble, the whole sound created was truly awe-inspiring, there was a sense of wonder emitted through this piece.

Eventually, the entire orchestra was added in, and the music turned very majestic and grand. There would be alternates between the quiet tremelo to loud, booming melodies led by the horns and violins. Eventually, the beat slowed significantly, with each note being clearly emphasized. At the end, the whole piece climaxed with the cymbals at the end. The whole ending was very majestic.