Pulcinella (ballet)
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Pulcinella is a ballet by Igor Stravinsky based on an 18th-century play. It premiered in Paris on 15 May 1920 under the baton of Ernest Ansermet. The dancer Leonid Myasin (Léonide Massine) created both the libretto and choreography, and Pablo Picasso designed the original costumes and sets. It was commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev.
Stravinsky based most of the composition on existing Baroque scores he found in libraries in Naples and London. The music was then attributed to Giovanni Pergolesi, but much has since proved to be spurious. He rewrote this older music in a more contemporary way by borrowing specific themes and textures, but interjecting modern rhythms, cadences and harmonies. Pulcinella is scored for a modern chamber orchestra with soprano, tenor, and baritone soloists, and is often considered to be the first piece of Stravinsky's neo-classical period.
The Pulcinella Suite is derived from the Ballet and has no singing parts. the Suite was revised by the composer in 1947, some references say 1949. The Ballet score was revised in 1965.
The Pulcinella suite consists of eight movements:
- Sinfonia
- Serenata
- a: Scherzino b: Allegretto c: Andantino
- Tarantella
- Toccata
- Gavotta (con due variazioni)
- Vivo
- a: Minuetto b: Finale
Stravinsky based the following works on the ballet:
- 1925: Suite Italienne for violin and piano.
- 1932/33: Suite Italienne for violoncello and piano (in collaboration with Gregor Piatigorsky).
- 1934: Suite Italienne for violin and piano (in collaboration with Samuel Dushkin).
