The MTT Files - Program 4: Igor Stravinsky's Copyright Blues

When Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird premiered in Paris, it was the most sensational hit of the early 20th century. But when the score fell out of the composer’s control because of the Bolshevik Revolution and the arcane realities of international copyright law, Stravinsky spent much of the rest of his life trying to collect some of the money he thought was due him.

In this program, MTT tells the sad tale of Stravinsky’s efforts to collect a royalty payment or two and asks why we should even care whether artists can protect their intellectual property. Featured is an interview/performance with pianola scholar Rex Lawson about one of Stravinsky’s efforts to make some money – the piano roll versions of tunes from The Firebird.

This is the 4th episode in The MTT Files radio series.

Show URL: 
http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/programs/mtt_files/mtt_04.shtml
Air-date: 
Sunday, April 1, 2007 at (All day)