Study Group “Stravinsky: Between East and West”

The idea of organizing a new IMS Study Group was born during a regional IMS symposium that took place in Kiev, in September 2008. During the final round table, Tilman Seebass, then IMS President, and Liudmila Kovnatskaya, then IMS Directorium Consultant, addressed the importance of involving more Eastern European colleagues in IMS activities. The creation of a study group was considered the most suitable way of approaching this objective. The emblematic work of Igor Stravinsky, a Russian composer of worldwide influence, was chosen to attract a maximum of scholarly cooperation at an international level. Under the title of “Stravinsky: Between East and West,” the goal is not supposed to focus only on Stravinsky’s artistic individuality, but also on mutual influences between Eastern and Western styles of composition during his time. Another important aim of the study group centers on overcoming informational, linguistic, and sociocultural barriers and boundaries still separating colleagues from East and West.

Since 2009, scholars from eight countries of the world took an opportunity to deliver their papers and to communicate fruitfully on the platform of the study group during five meetings (Minsk, Petrozavodsk, Rome, Vilnius, St. Petersburg). In 2016 the most eminent expert in Stravinsky’s output, Stephen Walsh (University of Cardiff) gave his kind consent to cooperate with the study group as its honorary member.

Natalia Braginskaya (RU), Valérie Dufour (BE)

For a report of recent activities, as well as older reports, see the IMS Publication Archive.