Offers a succinct account of the genesis of the music composed by Igor Stravinsky for The Rite of Spring, introducing – and challenging – standard scholarly narratives about authorship, the nature of genius and the ‘work’ concept. Provides a timeline to help readers appreciate the development of the score as a collaborative project involving not only Stravinsky, but also visual artist and amateur archaeologist Nicholas Roerich, choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky, impresario Sergei Diaghilev and Ballets-Russes soloist Maria Piltz (who danced the role of the Chosen One at the premiere). Considers the nature and significance of Stravinsky’s published sketches, revealing their role in the creation of the ballet and the standard critical responses to it that have dominated throughout the past century.