“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.
Transkription
for: Organ
Item no.: 139068
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1204584
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1204679
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 372833
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1200965
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 890051
MusicWorks Grade 1
for: Concert band
Score, set of parts, online audio
Item no.: 808604
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1211255
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 869622
Symphonic Brass Ensemble Series (Rekkenze Brass)
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts, CD
Item no.: 186068
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1062427
Pictures at an Exhibition:
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1062709
MusicWorks Grade 2
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 803713
Klassik
for: Vocal and Chamber Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 821526
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 860092
Klassik
for: Voice (baritone), piano
Buch
Item no.: 187289
Klassik
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 860802
3-5 octave Handbells
for: Choir
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 918369
Music for String Orchestra
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 809816
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412905
(Promenade & The Great Gate of Kiev)
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 890769
Southern Music
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924771
Brass and Timpani
for: Choir
Set of parts
Item no.: 917960
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 881117
(Promenade & The Great Gate of Kiev)
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 902493
European Parts
for: Concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 925472
(Promenade & The Great Gate of Kiev)
for: Piano, string orchestra
Score
Item no.: 902134
(Promenade & The Great Gate of Kiev)
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 901433
Southern Music
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 924966
for: Choir
Score
Item no.: 857395
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 283718
Esprit Marching Band
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 805177
Die Nacht auf dem kahlen Berge
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 272144
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 885076
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 885183
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 877903
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 863799
Blasorchester
Partitur
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 894837
concert band
score (with piano reduction) and parts
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 888458
Das Klavierkonzert
for: Piano, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 210404
Einführung und Kommentar
Lyric book
Item no.: 214237
from 'Pictures at an Exhibition'
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 901466
from 'Pictures at an Exhibition'
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 902813
Rubank Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1107074
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 865845
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1211254
Two Pianos, Four Hands. Two copies needed to perform.
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 901227
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 881576