“Art is not an end in itself, but a means of addressing humanity.” Modest Petrowitsch Mussorgski (1839 - 1881)
This was Mussorgski’s main focus and driving force, the truthful portrayal of human life, and all its trials and tribulations. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all the tumultuous highs and lows of Mussorgsky’s music today.
Mussorgsky was born into a wealthy, aristocratic family with a strong military tradition. After finishing his studies at the Cadet School of the Guard in St. Petersburg, Mussorgsky joined the Russian Imperial Guard. He soon gave up his commission to focus on his music. To that end, he held various positions as a civil servant to support his artistic and social development. Having got a taste for it at Cadet School, in his mid-twenties, Mussorgsky had his first issues with alcoholism. After his mother’s death in 1865, he fell into a deep depression which, along with his bohemian lifestyle, saw his alcoholism consume him, which resulted in an inability to work as an artist and composer. Despite the sincere efforts of his friends, particularly Rimsky-Korsakov, his brighter moments became few and far between. He finally succumbed to his vices, and died at the young age of 42.
The fundament of Mussorgsky’s music is realism. Its musical expression is gross, like the truth of life. Mussorgski’s music does not enchant but captivates with its emotional and dramatic charge. With this psychologically penetrating, harsh musical language, Mussorgsky influenced the entire up-and-coming generation of modern composers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The high point of Modest Mussorgsky’s artistic output is often viewed as his operas “Boris Godunov” and“ Khovanshchina”, which explore many new ideas, such as their dramatic musical structure, setting of folk texts, grand expressiveness amongst others. Numerous autobiographical elements can also be found in all his dramatic works.
An important part of the Mussorgsky’s work is his 60 songs, which reflect well the tragic nature of his troubled soul. The most famous symphonic works are “A Night on the Bald Mountain” and the cycle “Pictures at an Exhibition”, originally composed for piano, which today is mainly performed in the instrumental arrangement by Maurice Ravel.
2 Versions by D. Shostakovich and N. Rimsky-Korsakoff
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1610839
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1672773
for: 2 pianos
Single edition
Item no.: 1096186
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1211254
for: Brass band
Item no.: 260996
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 877903
for: 4 Klarinetten
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966744
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 881576
Two Pianos, Four Hands. Two copies needed to perform.
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 901227
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1648210
for: Concert Band and Vocal Soloist
Score
Item no.: 1067069
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1068160
Blasorchester
Partitur
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 894837
Werkeinführung
Die Oper – Schriftenreihe über musikalische Bühnenwerke
Study book
Item no.: 106136
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