Music and Art — Musical Paintbrushes

Lecture Music and Art Musical Paintbrushes Primitivism Tom Cimarusti, Ph.D. , Program Coordinator and Professor of Music History, Florida Gulf Coast University Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring stands as one of the most revolutionary works in the history of music, shocking early 20th-century audiences with its raw energy, dissonance and rhythmic intensity. This lecture explores how the piece reflects a broader cultural fascination with so-called "primitive" art — an artistic movement that drew inspiration from non-Western and ancient traditions, often emphasizing ritual, instinct and elemental force. By examining the ballet's music, choreography and original staging, we analyze how The Rite of Spring channels this aesthetic and how Stravinsky's musical language breaks classical conventions, challenges artistic norms, and caused one of the most famous riots in music history. This presentation is part of Tom Cimarusti's Music and Art series. Image: xxxxx -->