“Infernal Dance” from The Firebird

Petersburg University. Then, a simple

Igor Stravinsky
twist of fate changed his life forever.
Born: June 17, 1882
Died: April 6, 1971
In 1909, Stravinsky wrote a piece called
Fireworks as a wedding present for
The “Infernal Dance” by Igor
Rimsky-Korsakov’s daughter. It brought
Stravinsky was composed for a
him to the attention of the famous
ballet called The Firebird, which
Russian Ballet. The company had just
was first performed in June, 1910.
fired the composer for its next ballet, The
Firebird, because he hadn’t written any
A ballet? As you listen to this
music. Serge Diaghilev, head of the
music you may not think of
company, turned to Stravinsky, and his
ballerinas in pointed toe shoes.
music brought this legend to life. The
However, ballet is much more
rhythms and use of instruments were so
than pink tutus. It is the special art
unusual that dancers missed their
of telling a story through
entrances at first, and the composer had
exciting dance, music and
to explain the music to the orchestra
costumes. Ballet has been enjoyed
members. However, The Firebird was a
for many centuries, but in the
huge success, and Diaghilev and
early 1900s it was a particularly
Stravinsky went on to create several
popular form of entertainment,
ballets together.
just like movies and rock concerts
are today.
You can find the story of The Firebird
on the back of this page. At the point
Stravinsky was born in St.
where the “Infernal Dance” appears,
Petersburg in 1882. His father
Prince Ivan, the hero, has been trapped
was an opera singer, so Igor was
in the woods outside the castle by the
exposed to music at an early age.
evil demon’s subjects and the magical
He began formal piano lessons at
Firebird is leading these monsters in a
the age of nine, and by the time
wild dance. How does Stravinsky use the
he was sixteen was composing
orchestra to paint this scene? Listen for
great music. Stravinsky studied
some very unusual sounds. How would
composition with another famous
you dance to this music?
Russian composer, Nikolai
Rimsky-Korsakov, while a law
and philosophy student at St.

VS

Listen and Pretend

This music is fast and syncopated. The main melody of the music is played by
the bassoons and french horns. Try to find it woven in and out of the music.
Can you hear Prince Ivan, our hero, running through the forest? Many
monsters are running after him. You and your friends could act out this story
using your halloween costumes. Here are some ideas you can look at while you
listen to the music
 WGUC sincerely thanks
Show Time! The Charles H. Dater Foundation
for its sustaining support since the
Cut out the charactors from The Firebird and tape them onto popsicle inception of
Classics for Kids®.
sticks. Then make your own puppet show of the story.

Kashchei, Ivan,
the evil wizard the Hero A Princess The Firebird

wn Pum
ro pki
The Firebird Story

y ou nF
ace
ake
“The Firebird was based on a Russian folktale. In the tale, there is an evil
demon named Kashchei, whom no one could destroy. He has an enchanted
M garden that contains a tree with golden apples, the favorite food of the
magical Firebird. One day, Prince Ivan wanders into the garden looking
for the Firebird. He is able to capture the bird, but lets it go in return for
one of its feathers. Immediately, thirteen enchanted princesses appear
and dance around Prince Ivan. The prince falls in love with one of the
princesses, Tsarevna. Because they are under Kashchei’s magic spell, the
princesses must return to his castle at sunrise. Ivan follows them and is
captured by Kashchei’s evil guardians. He is about to be turned to stone
when he remember’s the Firebird’s magic feather and waves it in the
air. The Firebird returns and leads Kashchei and his monsters in a wild
dance—the “Infernal Dance.” The dance is so exhausting that Kashchei
and his followers fall fast asleep. The Firebird then tells Ivan that Kashchei’s
soul is in a huge egg. Ivan breaks the egg, which kills Kashchei and frees
his kingdom. Prince Ivan marries Tsarevna and Firebird flies away, never to
be seen again.”

Have You Read?

Two Scarlet Songbirds: A Story
of Anton Dvorak by Carole Lexa
Schaefer. You can find more good
books to read at
www.classicsforkids.com