“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.
Symphonic Brass Ensemble Series (Rekkenze Brass)
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts, CD
Item no.: 186068
für zwei Gitarren
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 113347
Young Concert Band
for: Youth concert band
Item no.: 375285
(Le ruisseau / Wellengeriesel)
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 757663
for: TTBB Piano 4-Hands
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037329
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 172721
Russische Musik der Moderne
for: Voice (baritone), piano
Music score
Item no.: 189322
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
Einführung und Kommentar
Lyric book
Item no.: 214237
With Organ Solo
for: Organ, concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315143
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 870516
for: Posaunenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 973310
Command
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1020824
for: Flute ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 994602
für Klavier zu 4 Händen
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 660921
aus dem Klavierzyklus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
Transkription für Gitarre
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 2394
für Klarinette, Horn, Fagott, zwei Violinen, Viola, Violoncello und Kontrabass
for: 8 instruments (octet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 663960
Ten Pieces
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 735815
und Libretto (in 2 Bänden)
for: BUEHNENWERKE + SZENISCHE WERKE OPER
Item no.: 1345317
Urfassung (1868/69) und Endfassung (1872/74)
Oper in 4 Akten und Prolog
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Lyric book
Item no.: 286183
Oper in vier Aufzügen mit einem Prolog
Originalfassung
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 286077
study score
for: Orchestra
Taschenpartitur
Item no.: 362247
Teens on stage
for: Flexible ensemble
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 155513
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 358994
aus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
für 4 Trompeten C/Bb, 3 Posaunen, Tuba
for: Brass ensemble (8 voices)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 389261
Russischer Tanz, bearbeitet für vier Posaunen
Edition Wiener Posaunenquartett
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174313
Tränen * Tears
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 637135
Faksimileausgabe nach dem Autograph der Russischen Nationalbibliothek, St. Petersburg
for: Piano
Music score (reprint, hardcover)
Item no.: 765980
after the original edition
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 744001
für Gesang und Klavier
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 360838
für Gesang und Klavier
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 360837
from Pictures at an Exhibition
for: Concert Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1186077
for: Brass ensemble (5 parts)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 597229
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 945343
from Pictures of an Exhibition
Muzika Ensemble Music
for: Flexible ensemble (5 parts), piano (school orchestra)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 224205
Southern Music
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 924966
Klassik
for: Viola, piano
Buch
Item no.: 299603
Klavier
for: Piano
Item no.: 1586198
young symphonic band series
for: Youth concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 696486
Beginning Band
for: Youth concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 348284
Sinfonisches Melodram für Streichorchester
Partitur, Text und Stimmen
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 191323
édition bon(n)orgue Vol. 45
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1550313
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210280
for: Choir
Score
Item no.: 857395
Der Marktplatz von Sorotschinzy
for: Streichquartett, Kontrabass (ad libitum)
Score, part
Item no.: 1199539
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 863799