Hear the name Igor Stravinsky and the first thing that comes to mind is a composer of ponderous, serious music. But did you know that Stravinsky lived much of his life in Hollywood? That he collaborated on musical projects with Pablo Picasso and George Balanchine? That his work subtly espoused deeply held political views and reflected key literary influences? That he was not only interested in the modern communication technologies of his time-sound recording, radio, television, even early computers-but wrote music that echoed their impact?

In Experiencing Stravinsky, music historian Robin Maconie takes a fresh approach to understanding this great composer’s works, explaining what makes Stravinsky’s sound unique and what we, as listeners, need to know in order to appreciate the variety and brilliance of his compositions. Experiencing Stravinsky is more than just another work of music appreciation. In the author’s deft hands, Stravinsky’s long musical career is a guided tour through 20th-century history, from Czarist Russia and two world wars to the height of the Hollywood era and the birth of the information age. Maconie has provided nothing less than an operating manual to getting the most out of Stravinsky’s music.