Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor born June 17, 1882. He is considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century . Igor's career as a composer was known for being creative and different. Igor's life at school was lonely and he once said that he felt that no one was attracted to him. Igor started piano lessons when he was young, began studying music and began trying to compose. Even though he loved music and his parents knew they expected Igor to study law. He attended school at St. Petersburg University but took about 50 classes in 4 years. The following summer he stayed with a composer and his family where Rimsky-Korsakov, one of the most famous composers of the time, suggested that Igor not go into law and take private lessons at the place. Igor's father died in the same year, when Igor had already begun to devote more time to music than to law. The university was closed for 2 months because of Bloody Sunday. At that time, Igor was unable to pass his final exam and received a half degree after which he completely focused on music. Igor continued to take private lessons from Rimsky-Korsakov until Rimsky's death in 1908. In 1905, he became engaged to his cousin whom he had known since childhood. Although the church was not happy about marrying first cousins, they married in 1906. They had 2 children soon after, born in 1907 and 1908. Igor went on to put on 2 orchestral works which were heard from a guy who was planning to present Russian ballets and operas in Paris. he then asked Igor to produce some orchestras and a complete ballet. After the success of the premiere of The Birds of Fire, Igor became one of the most popular composers, and in 1910 he and his wife had the...... middle of paper ......insky found that recordings were a simple and useful tool for preserving his thoughts on the performance of his music. As a conductor of his own music, he recorded primarily for Columbia Records, beginning in 1928 with a performance of the original suite from The Firebird and ending in 1967 with the 1945 suite of the same ballet. During his life, Stravinsky appeared on several television shows, most notably in the world premiere of The Flood in 1962 on CBS television. Although he made an appearance, the actual performance was directed by Robert Craft. Many films and videos of the composer have been preserved. Igor also published numerous books during his career, sometimes with the unaccredited help of a few friends. In 1969, Igor moved to the Essex House in New York where he lived until his death in 1971 at the age of 88 from heart failure. He was buried in San Michele near Diaghilev's tomb.