“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.
Russian Dance
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 724088
Gm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1024243
Transcription
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 750203
aus dem Klavierzyklus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
bearbeitet für Orgel
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 2293
aus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
for: 4 clarinets (B-flat), bass clarinet (B-flat)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1486
Ab
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1048276
Dushkin Transcriptions
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 720933
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1047063
Mephistos Lied in Auerbachs Keller
for: Voice (low), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1649
aus dem Klavierzyklus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2365
for: Voice (baritone/alto), piano
Music score
Item no.: 722414
op. posth. 70, Nr. 18
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2939
Orchestrated by Rimsky-Korsakow
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 755958
from Pictures at an Exhibition
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 722304
from Pictures at an Exhibition
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 732071
from Pictures at an Exhibition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 732047
from Pictures at an Exhibition
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 732077
op. posth. 70, Nr. 15
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 3448
aus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2079
aus dem Zyklus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2080
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 1631801
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210279
for: Solo for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Recorder, Trombone, Euphonium Violin, Viola or Violoncello & Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1251412
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242664
Instrumentation by Maurice Ravel
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758475
Mephistos Lied in Auerbachs Keller
for: Voice (high), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1648
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210276
The Piano Concerto
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 731733
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210368
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242666
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242657
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242653
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242652
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1382771
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1386495
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242665
Mephistos Lied in Auerbachs Keller
for: Voice (medium), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1647
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 731214
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210277
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210278
(from Pictures at an Exhibition)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 741374
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1384674
G
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1044253
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242655
for: Cello, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242650
aus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
Bearbeitung für fünf Instrumente
for: Flexible ensemble (5 voices); piano [keyboard] ad lib.
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2072
from: Pictures at an Exhibition
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 722189