Learning from Stravinsky’s Ethos: A Musical Collage as a Learning Tool

Yi-Ting Huang The Pennsylvania State University [email protected]

Abstract

The artistry of ’s (1882 –1971) music has been viewed as diverse and controversial. After his triumph with the debut of the Rite of Spring in 1913, Stravinsky continued to be influenced by the artists whom he encountered in Paris. His music in turn influenced the works of his contemporaries in various ways such as drama, , and visual arts.

Stravinsky’s music impressed people with its diversity and innovation, and can be appreciated from the perspective of its equivalency in the visual arts.

The purpose of this project is to help learners develop a practical understanding of the abstract nature of Stravinsky’s compositional characteristics through an integrated arts design--a digital musical collage. This project epitomizes Stravinsky’s compositional development in his path to Neoclassicism (1914-1926). Rather than explaining his compositional techniques from a theoretical point of view, this musical collage examines Stravinsky’s Neoclassicism through the juxtaposition of musical excerpts in a way that resembles Stravinsky’s compositional process.

The collage integrates techniques from visual arts, such as--block form, tiling, mosaic, montage, and so on -- that influenced Stravinsky’s musical aesthetics. This project is composed of three phases: an introduction, the transition to Stravinsky’s Neo-classical path, and the embodiment of Stravinsky’s maturity in composing music with his distinctive personal style.

Learners will experience Stravinsky’s music in Neoclassicism through a new platform-- a re- mixed musical collage that will hopefully promote their creativity in compositions and in thinking.