Incomplete And Utter History Of Classical Music

THE TIME OF THE KINGFISHER

T

he time of the kingfisher or, put another way, the halcyon time.

The golden years, that 'oooh' bit in history - call it what you will, just don't call it Keith. It's the time after which things would never be the same again. I prefer to label them '1911 to 1914'. So come with me, if you would, and we will walk through the halcyon years together.

In 1911, Stravinsky was stirring it up again with his music to the ballet Petrushka. It was strong stuff, too. I know everyone goes on about the riots at the first night of The Rite of Spring, but just take a listen to Petrushka some time. It's amazing, and it must have sounded so weird in 1911. If you know it, think of the Russian Dance from Petrushka. Got it in your head? Now think of 1911. It's the year King George V was crowned. Now think back to that music - does that sound like die music? Now King George V, again. Now the music. Honesdy, does that music sound like King George V? No! And I bet it sounded even less like King George V back then, too. Am I making sense? What I mean is that they don't seem to go together, do they? And that's the point. Stravinsky was…