Modest Mussorgsky was a significant Russian composer born on March 21, 1839, in Karevo, Russia, and he passed away on March 28, 1881, in St. Petersburg. He was a prominent figure in the Russian music scene during the Romantic period and was part of “The Five,” a group of composers dedicated to creating a distinctly Russian style of classical music.
Mussorgsky’s compositions often drew inspiration from Russian history, folklore, and other national themes. His innovative approach to composition sought to reflect the spirit and identity of Russia, sometimes challenging the established conventions of Western music. Among his most notable works are the opera “Boris Godunov,” the orchestral tone poem “Night on Bald Mountain,” and the piano suite “Pictures at an Exhibition”.
His life was marked by a deep connection to Russian culture, which he absorbed from an early age through fairy tales and the music of the people. This influence profoundly shaped his musical improvisations and compositions. Despite his lack of formal training in his early years, Mussorgsky’s natural talent for music was evident, and he eventually became one of the most original composers of his time.
Mussorgsky’s legacy is complex; for many years, his works were mainly known in versions revised or completed by other composers. However, his original compositions have posthumously gained recognition for their intrinsic value, and some of his original scores are now available, allowing a greater appreciation of his unique musical voice.
Pictures at an Exhibition – A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann' is a suite of ten pieces, plus a recurring and varied Promenade, composed for the…
Pictures at an Exhibition – A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann’ is a suite of ten pieces, plus a recurring and varied Promenade, composed for the piano by Modest Mussorgsky (1839-81) in 1874.
The suite is Mussorgsky’s most famous piano composition and has become a showpiece for virtuoso pianists. It has become further known through various orchestrations and arrangements produced by other musicians and composers, with Maurice Ravel’s arrangement being by far the most recorded and performed. It was completed in only twenty days, between 2–22 June 1874.
Mussorgsky based his musical material on drawings and watercolours by Hartmann produced mostly during the artist’s travels abroad. Locales include Italy, France, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Today most of the pictures from the Viktor Hartmann (1834-1873) exhibition are lost, making it impossible to be sure in many cases which Hartmann works Mussorgsky had in mind.
Simón García’s masterly transcription arranges a number of pieces for double bass quartet, offering musical and technical challenges for each player. Any number of movements can be performed and this is exciting, powerful, and colourful music to be enjoyed by performers and audiences alike.
