melodic notes logo

Rite of Spring


"Rite of Spring" is a groundbreaking composition by Igor Stravinsky, originally written in the key of F major. It premiered in Paris on May 29, 1913, with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company performing the choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky. Despite causing a scandalous reaction from the audience on its debut due to its complex and unconventional structure, the piece is now considered a masterpiece of 20th-century music. Stravinsky, a Russian composer, created this ballet score to depict a pagan ritual celebrating the arrival of spring. The melody of "Rite of Spring" is characterized by its pulsating and rhythmic motifs, dissonant harmonies, and polyrhythms, which add to its avant-garde and energetic nature.