kijä

Kijé is a musical suite composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1935 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Soviet film company Mezhrabpom. The suite is a musical interpretation of a short story of the same name, written by Yuri Tynyanov, which follows the life of a group of Russian villagers from the 17th century.

The suite is composed of five movements, each with its own unique character and mood. The movements are based on the story, taking into account the rise and fall of the main character, Kijé, a minor king of Tobago. The first movement, "Merry Kijé," sets the lighthearted and jovial tone for the story, describing Kijé's coronation and celebrations. The second movement, "The People Go," marks Kijé's death, with the villagers mourning his passing.

The third movement, "The People Rejoice," alludes to Kijé's resurrection and the subsequent celebrations that take place. The fourth movement, "Wedding and Funeral March," chronicles Kijé's happy but ultimately doomed marriage. The final movement, "Exiled," returns to the somber tone of the second movement, highlighting Kijé's eventual exile.

Throughout his life, Stravinsky made several revisions to the Kijé suite. The first version, composed in 1935, was performed by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Later, in 1936, Stravinsky reworked the suite, incorporating the additional movement and changing some of the instrumentation. This revised version was premiered in London in 1937.

Kijé has undergone performances by several symphonic orchestras, showcasing Stravinsky's construction of a story in a solely musical context.