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Question 1 - Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. The son of a famous bass singer at the Imperial Opera, Stravinsky showed little inclination to pursue a musical career, but while pursuing law studies in 1902, Stravinsky met Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, who advised him to study music instead. Stravinsky began studying with the famous Russian composer in 1903, and after Rimsky's death in 1908, never had another teacher. Stravinsky’s early works caught …

…the 1950s, Stravinsky shocked the musical world by turning to “serialism” and produced the twelve-tone ballet Agon and the choral work Canticum Sacrum. By this time, Stravinsky had lived long enough to see himself internationally honored as the western world's greatest living composer, and spent his last years conducting, recording his works, and granting interviews. He died in New York City in 1971, but his contributions to the world of music are still seen every day.