As you may or may not know, this year is the Year of the Environment at Furman University. I have been compiling a list of music about the earth (forthcoming) and in looking for a recording of Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) came across this compact disc collection, with Igor Stravinsky conducting his works. This is the first time this set has been released on CD, as the recordings were made in the 1960s and 1970s. This CD is available in the music library, just look for MCD3295. The packaging, with each CD in a “jacket,” is like a miniaturized version of the original records.
On a bonus disc, there is a piece called Circus Polka, which was originally composed as a ballet for elephants and ballerinas, and was presented as such in a joint circus performance in 1942.
You can view a list of all Stravinsky recordings here.
Categories: Featured listening
Hi. Saw your post on “Circus Polka,” and thought you might like to know that I’ve written a nonfiction picture book about this amazing event. It’s called “Ballet of the Elephants,” published in April ’06 by Roaring Brook Press, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker, available in many bookstores or at Amazon.leda schubert