Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (piano four hands)

Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring was first composed in 1913 for piano four hands, eight years before the orchestral score was published. Ronald Farren-Price and Rosslyn Farren-Price give an intense, highly rhythmic performance of the Rite, set against Ravel's melodic Mother Goose Suite, also originally written for piano four hands.

Ronald Farren-Price piano four hands
Rosslyn Farren-Price piano four hands
Igor Stravinsky composer
Maurice Ravel composer

These are the original four-hand piano versions of both works. Stravinsky published his reduction of The Rite of Spring in 1913, years before the full orchestral score; Ravel wrote Mother Goose for two of his young nieces before later orchestrating it.

The Farren-Prices recorded the programme in a single session at Melba Hall, University of Melbourne, on 5 January 1977.

Reviews

The two compositions are starkly contrasted – The Rite's fiery staccato against the melodic flow of Mother Goose ... this is one of the most important classical recordings issued in Australia for many years.

— Bob Crimeen, The Sun

Stravinsky always worked at the piano, and it is fascinating to hear the score in its original form: some of the instrumental colour may be lost, but none of the music's primitive rhythmic effect.

— W L Hoffmann, The Canberra Times

... it is a first-rate record. The playing of both works is clean, vital, full of character and splendidly disciplined.

— John Sinclair, The Herald

Without doubt, it is an important contribution to the catalog of Australian recorded classics. ... Their performance of 'The Rite' is intense and builds anticipated climaxes strongly.

— Forester, The Age

Artists

Photograph of Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky's music cracks open rhythm and colour: pagan rite and puppet theatre, Russian folk bite and cool neoclassical poise. From The Rite of Spring to Petrouchka and The Firebird, the writing still startles the ear.

Photograph of Ronald Farren-Price

Ronald Farren-Price

Ronald Farren-Price is an Australian concert pianist of rare artistry, sensitivity and virtuosity. Clarity of expression and firmness of touch are the hallmarks of his style, which brings bold nobility to each performance.

Photograph of Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel

Many consider Maurice Ravel a major composer for the piano as well as a genius of orchestration. It remains a surprise how few works make up his total output for the instrument: all his piano compositions can be performed in under two and a half hours.

Photograph of Rosslyn Farren-Price by photographer Howard Birnstihl

Rosslyn Farren-Price

Rosslyn Farren-Price graduated from the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music in 1964. She studied piano with Ronald Farren-Price. As well as teaching she has broadcast a number of times for the ABC radio and television, appeared with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and has lectured for the Council of Adult Education. She now lives in London.

Audio previews

Tracks

    The Rite of Spring Igor Stravinsky

  1. Introduction 3:29
  2. Dances of the Young Girls 3:06
  3. Ritual of Abduction 1:30
  4. Spring Rounds 4:17
  5. Ritual of the Rival Tribes 2:08
  6. Procession of the Sage :54
  7. The Sage :23
  8. Dance of the Earth 1:23
  9. The Sacrifice: Introduction 4:54
  10. Mystic Circles of the Young Girls 3:17
  11. Glorification of the Chosen One 1:40
  12. Evocation of the Ancestors :44
  13. Ritual Action of the Ancestors 3:38
  14. Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One) 4:54

    15. Mother Goose Suite Maurice Ravel

  15. Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty 1:16
  16. Tom Thumb 2:40
  17. Little Ugly, Empress of the Pagodas 3:22
  18. Beauty and the Beast 4:04
  19. The Fairy Garden 2:43

Performers

Contributors

No photograph: Howard Birnstihl

photography

Howard Birnstihl

Howard Birnstihl is a photographer whose cover, exterior and general photography appears across many Move Records releases from the late 1970s into the 2000s.

No photograph: Mirka Mora

cover illustration

Mirka Mora

Where to listen

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (piano four hands) is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (piano four hands) is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
MD 3017
List price
$20.00 AUD
Total playing time
50 minutes 22 seconds
Producer
Nicholas Alexander
Recording Engineer
Martin Wright
Venue
Melba Hall
Credit
Howard Birnstihl
Mirka Mora
Release date
Musical work
copyright
© 1977 Move Records
Sound recording
copyright
℗ 1977 Move Records
Category
Classical
Genres
Modernist Classical, Romantic & Impressionist
Barcode
EAN 9314574301724

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