Judge Bars Book on Stravinsky

A federal judge today barred publication of a biography of Igor Stravinsky, ruling that it drew too heavily from copyrighted quotes of the late composer.

In a preliminary order, U.S. District Judge Pierre N. Leval granted a request from longtime Stravinsky aide Robert Craft that he enjoin Macmillan Inc. from publishing “Firebird,” a 337-page biography by John Kobler. Craft wrote or co-wrote 15 books on Stravinsky, including four books of his interviews with the composer. Stravinsky held the copyright on his comments in those books and willed the copyright to Craft when he died, Leval said.