Music of the Decade

Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring: Rite meant riot as Stravinsky's jagged, primitive ballet score shocked music lovers out …

Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring: Rite meant riot as Stravinsky's jagged, primitive ballet score shocked music lovers out of their seats. In decades to come, classical music audiences would vacate their seats on a regular basis as modernist composers unpicked the musical basics of melody, harmony and tonality - meanwhile, it began with a very public battle between opposing composing giants Stravinsky, who believed in rejuvenating the musical forms of the past, and Arnold Schoenberg, who believed in creating totally new ones.

Arminta Wallace

Arminta Wallace

Arminta Wallace is a former Irish Times journalist