Thoughts on Stravinsky

The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky's masterpiece, is a setting about pagan sacrifice rituals. Stravinsky wrote the work about a decade before his life altering experiences in the 1920s.

I often wondered, what made him depart from composing one of the most pagan compositions in the history of music and then throughout much of the rest of his life write music that is often derived from Christian liturgy, stories, or even selections from the Bible? What was the change in his life that brought this about?

Wikipedia includes this statement on Stravinsky:

Although Stravinsky was not outspoken about his faith, he was a deeply religious man throughout some periods of his life. As a child, he was brought up by his parents in the Russian Orthodox Church. Baptized at birth, he later rebelled against the Church and abandoned it by the time he was fourteen or fifteen years old.[1] Throughout the rise of his career he was estranged from Christianity and it was not until he reached his early forties that he experienced a spiritual crisis. After befriending a Russian Orthodox priest, Father Nicholas, after his move to Nice in 1924, he reconnected with his faith. He rejoined the Russian Orthodox Church and afterwards remained a committed Christian. [2] Robert Craft noted that Stravinsky prayed daily, before and after composing, and also prayed when facing difficulty.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Stravinsky, accessed 30 Oct. 2012)

Even more enlightening is, however, this passage:

Two incidents appeared to assure his new-found fiath in Christ. One was an immediate and convincing answer to a private prayer,[4] and the other was a healing experience. Stravinsky developed a painful abscess on his right forefinger, and its insistent throbbing threatened to keep him from performing his Piano Sonata. He prayed about the problem but fully expected the concert would have to be canceled.

The pain hounded him all the way to the stage. Later he explained to his friend Robert Craft: "My finger was still festering when I walked onto the stage at the Teatro La Fevice, and I addressed the audience, apologizing in advance for what would have to be a poor performance. I sat down, removed the little bandage, felt the pain had suddenly stopped, and discovered that the finger was--miraculously, it seemed to me--healed.[5] (Patrick Kavanaugh, The Spiritual Livers of Great Composers [Nashville: Sparrow Press, 1992], pp. 92-93.)

Stravinsky's professional career moved from writing about pagan sacrifices in Rite of Spring to dedicating his life as a sacrifice in service of God through his music. The next major work that Stravinsky wrote, the Symphony of Psalms (1930)，contained a dedication to the glory of God. His faith in God was further shown in many other compositions written during his long life, for instance: A Soldier's Tale, Requiem Canticles, and his sacred choral works.

Comments on Sacrifices

Sacrifices are central to many cultures and religions, not just those in ancient Russia. Often in these cultures sacrifices of animals or even people were made to appease gods or to seek prosperity. A variety of sacrifices are also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Christians and Jews view the early accounts in the first book of the Bible (Genesis) as indicating the first sacrifices from which traditions around the world were derived. Human sacrifices were never approved in the Bible, rather these are viewed as pagan distortions of the original commands for sacrifices. We will see later that there was to be only one human sacrifice approved by God.

One important difference between pagan views of sacrifice and Judeo/Christian views has to do with the concept of sin. For Christians (and Jews) the removal of sin is first and foremost the reason for the sacrifice. Sin keeps a person from a healthy relationship with God, the world, and themself.

Animal sacrifices in the Jewish law, however, needed to be repeated over and over again and never could accomplish a final state without sin. We read in Hebrews 10 (found in the Greek Bible, New Testament) that they:

...can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. (Hebrews 10:1)

In our time, at least in America, it is uncommon to observe or even speak about sacrifices--particularly animal sacrifices. We might sacrifice money or time but in both cases it is not to relieve our sins, but usually for a delayed goal. We sacrifice time when we diligently practice our instruments. We do it in hopes of mastering a certain musical skill or passage or eventually to win employment. Our sacrifices bear a similarity, however, to the ancient sacrifices. In both cultures we are seeking advancement, prosperity, and peace.

The Bible further talks about needs in everyones' lives: the necessity of a relationship with God. The original purpose of the sacrifices were to restore a relationship with the one, true God. If you are hungry for that relationship with God, there is good news. God has made the final sacrifice for you:

But this Man [Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God... (Hebrews 10:12)

This is what makes the man Jesus unique. His life was lived to be that sacrifice. He is the last sacrifice needed, the one perfect sacrifice to restore all to God.

Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)

It is wonderful to be in a new relationship with God. If you are interested in further information on choices you can make, please see my video.