Stravinsky HELP

Hello,

So, I've just finished "Stravinsky - A New Appraisal of His Work" coming of reading Constant Lamberts "Music Ho!"

I quite enjoy stravinskys music, especially his first period (I am a relatively new covert to dusty old music and I haven't had a chance to check out his later styles) but I am totally lost in all of the allusions to the grand designs and clever maneuvers beneath the surface of the music. I'm not doubting there are great feats of compositions, I have just been unable to find much written that really explains the revolutionary aspects and their significance.

Can someone briefly explain a few of the concepts that make works like the Rite of Spring or the Firebird more than just the hedonist pleasures they are.

Perhaps someone could recommend and article online or a book, if one really does the job.

Similarly, I would love to find some similar information on Debussy and Gershwin. Just information to add to my enjoyment of the musical experience.

There is an analysis from Oxford press, if I remember correctly, and a (translated in English) book by boulez on Rite.

In general the 3 Ballets seemed completely unique at the time, even if they were completely filled with Russian folk songs and traditional tunes! Utterly!

On the Rite of spring, what seems to me (without having ever sat down to analyse it properly), his use of motifs which work with each other, and melodies which can go whichever way he wanted, in addition with cellular work, created this magnificent work! It's not just background and foreground: It's a whole world that can go anywhere you want. If you try a test and move a melody around, you'll see that it probably fits anyplace (at least at relatively close bars, not 300 bars apart).

BTW, your thread subject reads "Stravinsky HELP!", like calling out to Igor... I was expecting from a member called "Stravinsky" to reply first, but anyhow! :D

(also, for a much simpler example, of copying his work, check a thread by me named "Igor" in the orchestral forums!)