Sarah Brown
Igor Stravinsky was a celebrity classical music composer who was attuned to the power of publicity. One of his solo songs, How the Mushrooms Prepared for War, is a setting of a nursery rhyme that was known by every Russian child of Stravinsky's generation. The sheet music for this song is available on nkoda. The song was composed in memoriam in 1904 and dedicated to the composer's best friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition order | Second |
| Composition year | 1904 |
| Genre | Nursery rhyme |
| Dedication | Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov |
| Composition status | Unfinished |
| Publication year | 1979 |
| Publisher | Boosey & Hawkes |
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What You'll Learn
'How the Mushrooms Prepared for War' as sheet music
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is a composition by Igor Stravinsky, based on a well-known Russian nursery rhyme. It was composed in 1904 as a memorial to his friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father. The piece is a huge concert aria for bass voice and is filled with allusions to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles.
The sheet music for "How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is available from various sources, including the nkoda digital sheet music subscription service. This particular arrangement is for bass and piano and is part of a larger collection of Stravinsky's sheet music available on the platform.
The composition holds sentimental value as Stravinsky kept the manuscript with him throughout his life but never published it, nor finished it. It was only after his passing that his son, Soulima, reassembled the piece from two incomplete drafts and had it published in memoriam in 1979. This gesture repeated the homage of a complex relationship between a son and his illustrious but ambivalent father.
The piece is an example of Stravinsky's attunement to publicity and self-promotion. Even though he may not have actively participated in all endeavours, he ensured his name was associated with them. In this case, the composition was a personal and intimate one, dedicated to a close friend, but it also served to maintain his public image and career.
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" provides insight into Stravinsky's creative process and his ability to transform a familiar nursery rhyme into a grand concert aria. The composition showcases his unique style and talent for combining humour, incongruity, and sentimental value in his musical creations.
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The Russian nursery rhyme
Igor Stravinsky was a celebrity classical music composer who became famous by the age of 30. His work "How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is based on a Russian nursery rhyme that was popular among children of his generation. The composition is a huge concert aria for bass voice and is filled with allusions to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles. It was composed in 1904 as a memorial dedication to his friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father. Interestingly, Stravinsky kept the manuscript with him throughout his life but never published or finished it. The composition was later reassembled from two incomplete drafts by his son Soulima, who had it published in memoriam in 1979.
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is not the only work of Stravinsky's that draws inspiration from his Russian heritage. In a mock interview published in 1960, when asked what he loved most about Russia, Stravinsky answered: "the violent Russian spring that seemed to begin in an hour and was like the whole earth cracking." This sentence has been widely recycled in essays discussing his ballet masterpiece, "The Rite of Spring."
Stravinsky's early mentor, Sergei Diaghilev, taught him the art of publicity, and by 1912, charming and crafty interviews with Stravinsky were appearing in St. Petersburg newspapers. This trend continued throughout his life, with interviews being published in dozens of languages and on every continent except Antarctica.
It is worth noting that Stravinsky's published words were often crafted by ghostwriters, including his close associate, the conductor Robert Craft. Craft admitted to this in the foreword to "Themes and Conclusions," a collection of writings attributed to Stravinsky that was published posthumously. Other ghostwriters in Stravinsky's circle included Walter Nouvel, Alexis Roland-Manuel, Pierre Souvtchinsky, and Mercedes de Acosta.
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A concert aria for bass voice
Igor Stravinsky was a master of publicity and self-promotion, becoming a celebrity by the age of 30. His work 'How the Mushrooms Prepared for War' is a setting of a Russian nursery rhyme known to every child of Stravinsky's generation. Cast as a huge concert aria for bass voice, the piece is a salad of allusions to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles. Composed in 1904 as a memorial, it was dedicated to the composer's best friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father.
Stravinsky never published the piece and it was never quite finished. It was only through his son Soulima that the work was reassembled from two incomplete drafts and published in 1979. The piece holds sentimental significance as Stravinsky kept the manuscript with him throughout his life.
'How the Mushrooms Prepared for War' is the second of Stravinsky's compositions in order of composition. The piece is a hilarious incongruity, alluding to the favourite opera roles of Stravinsky's father, Fyodor. The composer's dedication of the work to his best friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, also holds significance as Rimsky-Korsakov was the son of Stravinsky's surrogate father.
The work is a testament to Stravinsky's skill in crafting intimate portraits through his music, with its lighthearted and playful theme of mushrooms preparing for war. This piece, along with his other works, showcases Stravinsky's unique ability to blend diverse influences and create innovative and memorable compositions.
Stravinsky's work continues to be celebrated and performed, with sheet music available for bass and piano, allowing musicians to bring his compositions to life even today.
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Allusions to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is a composition by Fyodor Stravinsky that is filled with allusions to his favourite opera roles. Composed in memoriam in 1904, it was dedicated to his best friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father. Stravinsky kept the manuscript with him throughout his life but never published it, and it was only reassembled and published by his son Soulima in 1979.
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is based on a nursery rhyme that was well-known to every Russian child of Stravinsky's generation. Cast as a huge concert aria for bass voice, the composition is a playful and incongruous mix of references to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles. While the specific opera roles alluded to are not explicitly mentioned in the source material, it is clear that the composition holds a sentimental value for Stravinsky, as he kept the manuscript with him throughout his life.
The composition's dedication to Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father, also hints at the importance of family and mentorship in Stravinsky's life. The surrogate father figure mentioned in the article could be a reference to a mentor or fatherly influence in Stravinsky's life, adding another layer of sentimental significance to the composition.
Unfortunately, the specific opera roles that Stravinsky alluded to in "How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" remain a mystery without further information. However, it is clear that the composition holds a special place in Stravinsky's body of work, and its publication by his son Soulima ensures that this intimate portrait of the composer lives on.
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Composed in memoriam in 1904
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is a composition by Igor Stravinsky that was set to a nursery rhyme familiar to every Russian child of his generation. It was composed in memoriam in 1904 and dedicated to his best friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, the son of his surrogate father. The composition holds sentimental significance as Stravinsky kept the manuscript with him throughout his life but never published it, and it was only reassembled and published by his son Soulima in 1979.
"How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" is a humorous and incongruous concert aria for bass voice that alludes to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles. The composition is a playful take on a nursery rhyme known to Russian children, turning it into a grand and comical opera-like piece. The dedication to his best friend at the time, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov, adds a layer of intimacy and sentimentality to the piece.
The fact that Stravinsky kept the manuscript with him throughout his life but never published it suggests that it held personal value and significance for the composer. It may have been a piece that he cherished and wanted to keep close, but perhaps felt it was not ready for public release or did not fit with his other works. The composition also serves as a tribute to his friend and his surrogate father, adding to its personal nature.
Stravinsky's son Soulima played a crucial role in bringing "How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" to light by reassembling it from two incomplete drafts and publishing it in 1979. This act of homage repeated the gesture of tribute that his father had made to his friend and surrogate father. Soulima's publication of the piece allowed it to be shared with the world and preserved his father's work, honouring his memory.
The composition "How the Mushrooms Prepared for War" by Igor Stravinsky is a unique and intimate work that holds personal significance for the composer. Its dedication, unpublished status, and subsequent publication by his son all contribute to its sentimental value. The piece serves as a memorial to those dear to Stravinsky and showcases his playful side through its creative adaptation of a familiar nursery rhyme into a grand concert aria.
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Frequently asked questions
'How the Mushrooms Went to War' is a piece of sheet music composed by Igor Stravinsky. It is a setting of a nursery rhyme that every Russian child of Stravinsky's generation knew by heart.
Stravinsky never published the piece, instead keeping the manuscript with him throughout his life. It was composed in memoriam in 1904 and dedicated to the composer's best friend, Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov.
'How the Mushrooms Went to War' is a salad of allusions to Fyodor Stravinsky's favourite opera roles.
The piece was ultimately published by Stravinsky's son, Soulima, in memoriam in 1979.
