Are you a lover of Stravinsky?

The most useful way to listen into a Stravinsky work is to pay careful attention to each theme, and how it becomes fragmented and reassembled over the course of the piece.

In listening to these themes, try to pay particular attention to the intervals, they are usually musically significant.

And you will hear different keys collide and co-exist when it suits the action.

I wish someone had suggested to me how to listen to Stravinsky years ago.

It took me a long time to appreciate but one day the "Rite" just wouldn't leave my head. It was really inconvenient as my gear was in storage - I managed to extract my tt and pre amp and bodge this into a boombox so I could listen the same night. Sounded wonderful.

The Rite is the key to 20th C the way Picasso's M. D'Avignon is to painting. Both done around the same time. I think all the arts are interconnected which is a really fascinating study. Try to read Zola and not think of Dega's laundresses, and G Stein without Matisse or Picasso.

the interconnections are fascinating - so much to do and so little time . . .

yes, once I turned my attention toward classical the history was really overwhelming. I take it a bit at a time. Having season tickets to symphony and opera helps keep me on track seeing new things. And with a mind like a sieve I can go back to an opera and not realized I've seen it before like last night's Elixir of Love. tho it was beautifully staged, and they made it a bit campy with humor, it was a wonderful night.