Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring is written well for a dramatic narrative ballet. It combines traditional forms of classical narrative with complex rhythms and modern techniques. The music and the dance seamlessly complement each other, making me wonder if the dance came entirely after the music or if the music was inspired by ideas of movement.

The overture begins by showcasing the single voice of the bassoon. As the texture grows, other instruments such as the clarinet add their voices in seemingly opposing rhythms and melodies. However, the overall texture reads as a controlled chaos, as it does for much of the ballet. Other instruments take the role of accompaniment when their voices are not featured alone, such as the violins. When the curtain opens, the bouncing and dramatic rhythm of the brass and percussion informs the dance of the first tribe. The movements are bouncy yet defined, just like the orchestra’s music. As the dance continues, the leader of the dance is voiced by a single low brass instrument (trombone?) while the group responds with a responding accompaniment from the orchestra. This is a way in which the narrative style of the music is visually represented with dance.

At 6:30, when all of the groups begin to dance together, the score moves from controlled chaos into a fight-like rhythm and melody. Many voices are still heard on top of this theme in cacophony, representing the narrative of a fight or confrontation between all four groups. Again, this is represented visually in the dance. The chaos reaches its apex when the prophet-like character enters and the score builds from some voices to a heightened texture with many different voices at once, much like the overture. Finally, at the end of the piece beginning at 33 minutes, Stravinsky’s complex rhythms are featured as a dancer moves in solo, being possessed by a spirit of the ritual. This section reaches the apex of a controlled chaos with an underlying driving rhythm, which ends abruptly. I enjoyed this piece and found it very dramatic, especially in the way that it blended seamlessly with the dancer’s narrative.