Synopsis

 

In the dark garden of the Immortal Kostchei (pronouced kosh-ay), a tree glows, laden with golden fruit. The Firebird appears, attracted by the tree, and is pursued by Prince Ivan Tsarevitch. He captures her and refuses to release her. She offers one of her magic feathers as ransom and promises to return to aid him if he waves it when in danger. He frees her and she flies away.

 

Maidens, led by the beautiful Princess Tsarevna, appear and enter the garden. Ivan conceals himself to watch as they gather golden apples. Attracted to the Tsarevna, he emerges from his hiding place.  She warns him to leave, as he is trespassing in the garden of the magician Kostchei.  This magician, she tells him, has captured her and the other maidens, and will cast a spell on any traveler who is passing by.  Ivan, however, refuses to leave, and instead, expresses his love for her.

 

By dawn, Tsarevna and the maidens must return to the castle, but before they leave, Tsarevna and Ivan share a kiss.  Despite Tsarevna warnings, Ivan follows them towards the castle. 

 

Ivan opens the gates making an alarm to sound.  Monsters rush from the castle, followed by Kostchei, to catch him. Kostchei captures Ivan and tries to turn him into stone, but Ivan waves the magic feather. The Firebird appears and forces Kostchei and the monsters to dance until they are completely exhausted, and then puts them to sleep. Ivan is instructed to steal the egg that contains Kostchei’s soul. He does, and throws it to the ground, which breaks the spell over the princesses and kills Kostchei.

 

The princesses celebrate their freedom from Kostchei’s enchantment, and Tsarevana and Ivan are married, blessed by the Firebird.  Yay, happy ending!

 

   

 

 

Who is Kostchei?

 

In Slavic folklore, Kostchei is an archetypal male antagonist who cannot be killed by conventional means targeting his body.  He is often illustrated as being old and ugly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the folklore goes, Kostchei's soul (or death) is hidden separate from his body inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in a chest, which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on the island of Buyan in the ocean.  As long as his soul is safe, he cannot die.

 

However, if the chest is dug up and opened, the hare will bolt away; if the hare is killed, the duck will emerge and try to fly off.  Anyone possessing the egg has Kostchei in their power - he begins to weaken, becomes sick, and immediately loses the use of his magic. If the egg is tossed about, Kostchei is also flung around against his will.  And, if the egg or needle is broken, Kostchei will die.

 

 

 

 

This Kostchei Character Sounds Familiar...

 

I am not going to lie, when I first read Kostchei' backstory, it sounded an awful lot like the backstory of Voldemort.  However, J.K. Rowling has never mentioned this connection in any interview about her creation of Voldemort... so I guess it is just a coincidence.  Or is it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Fact

 

Since Prince Ivan Tsarevitch and Princess Tsarevna got married, her name is now Princess Tsarevna Tsarevitch.  Now that's a mouthful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity 1 - Listening

 

 

The music for The Firebird ballet was written by Igor Stavinsky, who was a composer during the Modern Period.  Stravinsky wrote lots of ballet music, but ‘The Firebird’ was his first and made him famous. The first performance in 1910, which took place in Paris, was very well received – it was just like having a No. 1 hit!

 

Stravinsky used several compositional techniques in the music for The Firebird. 

• He wrote this music for a large orchestra, with many instruments 

• He used dynamics (both louds and softs) to help depict the mood of the scenes.  This was accomplished by having less instruments play during softer moments and all the instruments play during louder moments.

• He used repetition to help portray a 'happy' atmosphere (such as repeated the same melody over and over)

• He used quick notes to depict one of the characters

• He included a brass instrumental fanfare, which is most often used to anounce a person, thing or event

 

 

The first excerpt we will be watching and listening to is the entrance of the firebird.  Of the above compositional techniques, which one(s) did Stravinsky use to depict the firebird?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next excerpt is the capture of Prince Ivan by the monsters and Kostchei.  Again, which compositional tecnhiques listed above did Stravinsky use to depict the capture of Prince Ivan?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final excerpt is the wedding of Prince Ivan and Princess Tsarevna.  Which compositional tecnhiques listed above did Stravinsky use to depict the wedding?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity 2 - Composing

 

Directions

 

1. Ask students to get into groups of 2-4 people. 

2. The task is to create a short piece of music (4-16 measures) that depicts the firebird, the capture of Prince Ivan, or the wedding of Prince Ivan and Princess Tsarevna using similar techniques to those used by Stravinsky. 

3. Students must choose instruments and/or singing that depicts the chosen character or scene.

4. Once completed, ask students to play the same short piece but in a contrasting style (i.e., quick notes become long notes; loud and   triumphant becomes soft and hestitant).

5. Ask students to play both (original and contrasting) for the rest of the class.