“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.
for: Voice (medium), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 358813
Arranged for organ
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 612369
for: 9 Klarinetten oder Klarinetten Chor
Set of parts
Item no.: 638250
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 201493
For (High) Voice and Piano
for: Voice (high), piano
Score
Item no.: 169688
Neuausgabe in dt./russ. (mit Transliteration)
for: Voice (medium/low), piano
Piano score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 138630
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1144418
Konzertwerk
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1000095
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 1000041
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949587
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 283718
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1620637
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 1664473
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 170046
for: Orchester (2 Oboen, 2 Klarinetten, 2 Fagotte, 2 Hörner, 2 Trompeten, Posaune, Pauken, Piatti, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello, [Kontrabass]
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424810
Werkeinführung
Die Oper – Schriftenreihe über musikalische Bühnenwerke
Study book
Item no.: 106136