Igor Stravinsky

" I compose," says Igor Stravinsky, one of the most important leaders in twentieth century music, "because I am made for that and cannot do otherwise." He believes in inspiration, but does not wait for it. For him, composition is a gaily fuction which he must discharge.
The man whose music has caused near-riots when it was first performed, who has been praised and misunderstood and argued over, is slight and thin, with nervous gestures and penetrating eyes behind strong lenses. He has great energy and leads a vigorous life.
As a boy he grew up in a musical atmosphere. His father was the leading bass in the Russian Imperial Opera, his mother was a trained pianist. He often went to the opera to hear his father sing, and early learned to read and enjoy the scores. In the winters there was the exciting musical world of St. Petersburg, in the summers the family went to the country where young Igor heard stirring national folk song which were later to influence his music
His father wanted him to study law because it was a safer career than art. But when Stravinsky met Rimsky- Korsakov and studiedunder him, he was encouraged to give up law for music. For the wedding of Rimsky's daughter, Stravinsky wrote Fireworks  and sent it as a surprise to the master. It was a great blow to have the package returned unopened because of Rimsky sudden death.
A lifelong friendship with Diaghilev, the impresario of Russian ballet, brougt both men fame. For Diaghilev, Stravinsky wrote numerous ballets which established his reputation and influenced the development of modern music.

Ampersands & angle brackets need to be encoded.