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Pictures at an Exhibition

Pictures at an Exhibition. by Modeste Mussorgsky. In 1874, Modest Mussorgsky, a Russian composer, visited a memorial exhibition of paintings by his artist friend, Viktor Hartmann. Hartmann Exhibit….

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Pictures at an Exhibition

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  1. Pictures at an Exhibition by Modeste Mussorgsky

  2. In 1874, Modest Mussorgsky, a Russian composer, visited a memorial exhibition of paintings by his artist friend, Viktor Hartmann. Hartmann Exhibit…

  3. Hartmann, a well-known artist and architect, had died the previous year at the age of 39

  4. Deeply moved by his friend’s pictures, Mussorgsky chose ten of them for musical illustration.

  5. Although Mussorgsky composed the music for piano, Maurice Ravel arranged the most well known orchestral setting.

  6. Now, let’s try to imagine how each of these ten paintings may have appeared…

  7. Promenade I Depicts our composer walking into the gallery, then moving from painting to painting.

  8. Gnome A little gnome, clumsily running with crooked legs

  9. Promenade II Key of A flat major. The promenade theme, illustrating the composer walking from work to work.

  10. The Old Castle A muted alto saxophone conjures images of a troubadour singing outside the walls of a medieval castle.

  11. Promenade III Key of B major. The promenade theme, extremely short (8 measures).

  12. Tuileries Children’s sol-mi chant evokes images of hide & seek and tag… and running home for dinner at the end of the day. "na-na-na-na...you can't catch me!"

  13. Bydlo (Ox Cart) The ox cart approaches from the distance, plodding along as its driver deeply sings a Russian folk song. Then they both disappear into the distance…

  14. Promenade IV • Key of D minor. The promenade theme is now sad and pensive

  15. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks AABA’ form: The last A’ section ends with what sounds like the peeping of the hatched chick

  16. Goldenberg and Schmuyle Strong Strings and a Trembling Trumpet depict a verbal disagreement between two old friends… one particularly overbearing and the other somewhat mild-mannered and nervous. Who gets the last word?

  17. The Marketplace Rapid, high-pitched notes simulate the chattering voices of women and vendors bartering in the in the market

  18. The Catacombs/ Cum Mortuis in lingua mortua Loud and soft chords mysteriously evoke the cavernous acoustics of the catacombs. The second part features a ghostly, hymn-like variation of the promenade theme.

  19. The Hut of Baba Yaga • ternary form (ABA) Grunting strings… snarling brass… shrieking woodwinds… All create Baba Yaga’s mysterious hut on chicken’s legs!

  20. The Great Gate of Kiev Long Live Hartmann and Mussorgsky!

  21. CREDITS: • Audio excerpts, for educational purposes only, from: Philips Digital Classics: Muossorgsky; Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Riccardo Muti, 1991 • Some descriptive wordings of the various suite sections from the album insert written by Bernard Jacobson

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