The Firebird is a ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky. It tells a Russian fairy tale about a prince, a magic bird with feathers of fire, and a wicked king who cannot die. It was first danced in Paris in 1910, and it made Stravinsky famous at 28. Most people hear the music as a suite for orchestra, which lasts about 20 minutes.
For a child, start with the “Infernal Dance” and the Finale. Together they last about eight minutes.
Quick facts
- Composer: Igor Stravinsky, from Russia
- First danced: June 1910, in Paris
- Length: about 20 minutes for the suite, and about 45 for the full ballet
- Listen for: the horn tune that ends the piece
- Good to know: Stravinsky made three suites, and the one from 1919 is played most
The story
Prince Ivan is hunting at night. He wanders into the enchanted garden of Kashchei, a wicked king who turns his enemies to stone.
In the garden, Ivan sees the Firebird, a shining bird that flutters among the trees. He catches her. She begs to go free, and he lets her go. In thanks, she gives him one of her feathers. If he is ever in danger, he can wave it, and she will come.
Thirteen princesses come out to dance in the garden. They are Kashchei’s prisoners. Ivan falls in love with one of them.
Kashchei and his monsters catch Ivan. Ivan waves the feather. The Firebird flies in and casts a spell that forces the monsters to dance until they drop. Then she sings them to sleep.
She shows Ivan a hidden egg that holds Kashchei’s soul. Ivan smashes it. Kashchei dies, the stone knights wake, the princesses are free, and Ivan marries his princess.
The seven parts of the suite
1. Introduction. Low strings creep and mutter in the dark. This is Kashchei’s garden.
2. The Firebird and her dance. The music turns light and quick. Flutes, clarinets, and strings flicker and dart.
3. Variation of the Firebird. More of the bird, in short, bright flashes.
4. Round dance of the princesses. A slow, gentle tune on the oboe, with a harp. Stravinsky took it from a Russian folk song.
5. Infernal Dance of King Kashchei. A huge bang starts it. Loud chords keep jumping out where nobody expects them, and the rhythm lurches. It gets faster and wilder to the end.
6. Lullaby. A bassoon plays a slow, rocking tune over quiet strings and harp. The monsters sleep.
7. Finale. A single horn plays a calm tune. The strings take it up. It repeats, growing each time, until the whole orchestra plays it with ringing brass. The piece ends on huge, slow chords.
Things to do together
Tell it first. Tell the story before you play a note. Then name each part as it begins.
Be the bird. In parts 2 and 3, flutter around the room with a scarf.
Catch the bang. In the Infernal Dance, try to clap on each loud chord. It is hard, because Stravinsky puts them off the beat.
Rock the monsters. Sway to the Lullaby and listen for the bassoon. Woodwind instruments for kids explains what a bassoon is.
Grow with the tune. Start the Finale curled up on the floor. Rise a little each time the tune repeats. Stand with arms wide for the last chords.
Draw the feather. Draw the Firebird’s feather, or the egg with the soul inside, on a listening journal page.
Soft to loud
The Finale is one long crescendo, which means it grows from soft to loud. Dynamics in music for kids has the words for it. Compare it with “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” which grows louder and faster at once. The Firebird’s ending grows louder and grander, and it slows down.
Print and play
Read Stravinsky for kids and print the Stravinsky fact sheet. For more music that tells a tale, see classical music that tells a story.
More guides are listed in classical music listening guides for kids.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.