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idiomatic composers for the piano, Stravinsky was not concerned with different
lengths of fingers and were often embedded melodies within chordal passages.
piece" and tried to make the best use of the "resources appropriate to piano." On
the other hand, in other places, he pointed out the limitations of piano as an
artistic medium: "the piano reductions are absolutely incapable of conveying one's
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conflicting statements about the pianistic quality of Petrushka suggest that
Stravinsky himself was aware of the techinical difficulties of his own music.
piece, which is why I am writing about the genesis of its composition, focusing on
music for the Ballets Russes, a company for which many composers wrote,
including Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Serge Prokofiev.
the Ballets Russes, Igor Stravinsky, and will give background information on the
Petrushka, and finally address specific technical problems for the pianist and
It is my hope that this document will provide the pianist with important
which will aid in achieving the best possible performance of the piano version.
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