“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.
Biografie
Book
Item no.: 321387
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1202492
for: Handbells [3-4]
Single edition
Item no.: 1115375
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1137498
for: BFL ENSEMBLE (SOPSAATTBGB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 364213
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949588
from "Pictures at an Exhibition"
Command
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1018200
for: Voice (medium), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 358817
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1211968
for: Orchester (2 Oboen, 2 Klarinetten, 2 Fagotte, 2 Hörner, 2 Trompeten, Posaune, Pauken, Piatti, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello, [Kontrabass]
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 424814
for: Orchester (2 Oboen, 2 Klarinetten, 2 Fagotte, 2 Hörner, 2 Trompeten, Posaune, Pauken, Piatti, 2 Violinen, Viola, Violoncello, [Kontrabass]
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424811
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1664472
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1664470
orchestriert von Maurice Ravel
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 623224
Promenade, Tuileries, Le Marche De Limoges, La Grande Porte De Kiev
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1073594
for: Concert band
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1639500
for: 4 guitars (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1114918
Klassik
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 860802
Promenade - Il Vecchio Castello - Promenade - Ballet Des Poussins Dans Leurs Coques
for: Flute ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1072158
"Il vecchio castello" für 8 Violoncelli
for: 8 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 659716
Piano reduction
Item no.: 229009
Symphonic Brass Ensemble Series (Rekkenze Brass)
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts, CD
Item no.: 186068
Young Concert Band
for: Youth concert band
Item no.: 375285
for: TTBB Piano 4-Hands
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037329
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 172721
for: Concert Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1187280
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Item no.: 333317
Eine Geschichte zur Musik von Modest Mussorgski
Das musikalische Bilderbuch mit CD und zum Streamen
Illustrated book, CD
Item no.: 460571
With Organ Solo
for: Organ, concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315143
for: Chamber orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1671687
Command
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1020824
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 870516
form "Pictures at an Exhibition"
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1668395
für Klavier zu 4 Händen
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 660921
for: Flute ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 994602
for: Posaunenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 973310
from Pictures at an Exhibition
for: 13 Trumpets and Percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 627806
zen-on piano library
for: Piano
Item no.: 1586271
from 'Pictures at an Exhibition'
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 902813
concert band
score (with piano reduction) and parts
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 888458
Einführung und Kommentar
Lyric book
Item no.: 214237
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Voice (baritone), piano
Music score
Item no.: 189322
für zwei Gitarren
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 113347
2 Versions by D. Shostakovich and N. Rimsky-Korsakoff
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1610839
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1211254
for: Concert Band and Vocal Soloist
Score
Item no.: 1067069
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1068160
for: 2 pianos
Single edition
Item no.: 1096186