# Igor Stravinsky — The Rite of Spring

Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (1913) is No. 1 in our Modernism ranking. The full verdict, and where to hear it.

- **Released:** 1913
- **On one list:** Modernism
- **Updated:** 2026-08-30
- **Artist:** [Igor Stravinsky](https://waxonia.com/artist/igor-stravinsky/)
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/track/igor-stravinsky--the-rite-of-spring/

## What we say

### No. 1 in [Modernism](https://waxonia.com/genre/modernism/)

The premiere ended in a riot, which has slightly obscured the fact that the rhythmic writing is still the most violent thing in the orchestral repertoire. Nothing has caught up.

## Analysis

5 sections, the first drop of 3 at 1:14, 40% of the way in, 13% of it spent climbing.

- **Tempo:** 112.3 BPM — holds throughout
- **Dynamic range:** 18.4 dB — wide open — the quiet parts are genuinely quiet
- **Length:** 3:04

- `0:00` A · **intro**, instrumental — opens the record below its own average energy — playing: other
- `1:14` B · **breakdown** (bar 35), instrumental — energy falling away mid-record, percussion thinning — playing: other
- `2:05` A · **lift** (bar 59), instrumental — a short rise that does not resolve — a fill or a transition, not a build — playing: other
- `2:25` A · **build** (bar 68), instrumental — energy and brightness climbing without a break — playing: other
- `2:49` C · **peak** (bar 79), instrumental — sits at the top of this record's range — playing: other

**Drops** at 1:14 (bar 35), 2:04 (bar 58), 2:41 (bar 75). A drop is a moment, not a stretch.

**What is playing.** Separated into parts by a source-separation model, so each lane is the instrument it names.

- **drums:** the drum kit, separated from the mix
- **bass:** the bass part, separated from the mix
- **vocals:** the voice, separated from the mix
- **other:** everything else — synths, guitars, keys, strings

Measured from the YouTube master on 2026-08-29. Section labels describe how the energy
moves, not musical form. Anything we were not confident enough to state is omitted
rather than hedged.

## Listen

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Igor%20Stravinsky%20The%20Rite%20of%20Spring) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=dcwB67IoefA)

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Hand-curated by Waxonia. We host no audio; all links point to streaming platforms.