rite of spring, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

medium
UK/ðə ˈraɪt əv ˈsprɪŋ/US/ðə ˈraɪt əv ˈsprɪŋ/

formal, artistic, academic

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Quick answer

What does “rite of spring, the” mean?

A ballet and orchestral concert work by Igor Stravinsky, first performed in 1913, known for its revolutionary music and choreography.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A ballet and orchestral concert work by Igor Stravinsky, first performed in 1913, known for its revolutionary music and choreography.

Often used metaphorically to refer to any groundbreaking, chaotic, or primal artistic performance; symbolically represents ritual, renewal, and modernist innovation.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or reference; both refer to the same Stravinsky work.

Connotations

In both varieties, associated with modernism, artistic rebellion, and cultural impact.

Frequency

Equally common in cultural, academic, and artistic discourses in both the UK and US.

Grammar

How to Use “rite of spring, the” in a Sentence

NP be performed by NPNP be composed by NPNP inspire NP

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Stravinsky's The Rite of Springperform The Rite of Springorchestra plays The Rite of Spring
medium
music from The Rite of Springchoreography of The Rite of Springpremiere of The Rite of Spring
weak
spring ritualmodernist masterpieceballet score

Examples

Examples of “rite of spring, the” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The orchestra will perform The Rite of Spring next season.

American English

  • They are staging The Rite of Spring at the Kennedy Center.

adverb

British English

  • The Rite of Spring is frequently performed worldwide.

American English

  • The Rite of Spring is often cited as a masterpiece.

adjective

British English

  • The Rite of Spring performance was groundbreaking.

American English

  • Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is iconic.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rarely used; may appear in contexts like arts funding, event planning, or cultural tourism.

Academic

Common in musicology, dance studies, cultural history, and modernist art courses.

Everyday

Uncommon; typically used by individuals with an interest in classical music, ballet, or cultural topics.

Technical

Used in musical analysis to discuss rhythm, harmony, orchestration, and choreographic techniques.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “rite of spring, the”

Strong

The SacreSpring Ritual

Neutral

Le Sacre du printempsStravinsky's ballet

Weak

modernist workavant-garde composition

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “rite of spring, the”

traditional balletclassical symphonyconventional music

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “rite of spring, the”

  • Mispronouncing 'rite' as 'right'
  • Omitting 'the' in the title
  • Confusing with 'Rite of Passage'

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Igor Stravinsky.

1913.

It revolutionized music and ballet with its innovative rhythms, harmonies, and primal themes.

Yes, it is regularly performed by orchestras and ballet companies around the world.

A ballet and orchestral concert work by Igor Stravinsky, first performed in 1913, known for its revolutionary music and choreography.

Rite of spring, the is usually formal, artistic, academic in register.

Rite of spring, the: in British English it is pronounced /ðə ˈraɪt əv ˈsprɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ðə ˈraɪt əv ˈsprɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • rite of passage

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'Rite' as 'ritual' for 'Spring'; it's Stravinsky's ritualistic spring ballet that caused a scandal.

Conceptual Metaphor

ART AS RITUAL, INNOVATION AS CHAOS

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
Stravinsky's is considered a landmark in 20th-century music.
Multiple Choice

What is The Rite of Spring primarily known as?