Pictures at an Pictures at an ExhibitionExhibition

Music byMusic by

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

(1839-1881)(1839-1881)

This Power Point is for presentation with the Music CD: Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.

Russian NationalismRussian Nationalism Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer who Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer who

lived from 1839 – 1881. lived from 1839 – 1881. He was a part of a group of Russian nationalist composers He was a part of a group of Russian nationalist composers

known as “The Five”. They were Mily Balakirev, Modest known as “The Five”. They were Mily Balakirev, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolav Rimsky-Korsakov, Aleksandr Borodin Mussorgsky, Nikolav Rimsky-Korsakov, Aleksandr Borodin and Cesar Cui. Nationalism was a movement in music in and Cesar Cui. Nationalism was a movement in music in which each composer expressed the ideals and cultural which each composer expressed the ideals and cultural aspects of his/her native country.aspects of his/her native country.

Mussorgsky was the son of a land owner and became an Mussorgsky was the son of a land owner and became an officer in the Russian Army.officer in the Russian Army.

He had no formal training in composition, although he was He had no formal training in composition, although he was a gifted musician. a gifted musician.

Mussorgsky held various Civil Service positions while he Mussorgsky held various Civil Service positions while he continued to pursue composition.continued to pursue composition.

His most famous works are His most famous works are Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition and and Night on Bald Mountain. Pictures Night on Bald Mountain. Pictures was originally written for was originally written for piano and then later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel.piano and then later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel.

PromenadePromenade You are the viewer taking a walk through You are the viewer taking a walk through

the art exhibit. As the music begins, you the art exhibit. As the music begins, you enter the Museum. Use your imagination enter the Museum. Use your imagination and join Mussorgsky in viewing the great and join Mussorgsky in viewing the great works while listening to his exciting music!works while listening to his exciting music!

As you enter the gallery, you will hear the As you enter the gallery, you will hear the theme called the theme called the PromenadePromenade. This theme . This theme is heard between each movement. is heard between each movement.

It indicates that the viewer is leaving one It indicates that the viewer is leaving one room and entering another room of the room and entering another room of the museum.museum.

Each time the Each time the PromenadePromenade is heard, it’s is heard, it’s time to view a new painting.time to view a new painting.

GnomusGnomus This is the first room of the This is the first room of the

exhibition. It goes with the exhibition. It goes with the first movement of the first movement of the piece, entitled piece, entitled GnomusGnomus..

What do you think it’s What do you think it’s about?about?

What does the music What does the music sound like?sound like?

PromenadePromenade

The Old CastleThe Old Castle This is the 2This is the 2ndnd

movement of the movement of the piece.piece.

What part of the castle What part of the castle is this?is this?

What does the music What does the music sound like?sound like?

PromenadePromenade

The TuilleriesThe Tuilleries

BydloBydlo

By looking at the picture, can you tell what a “bydlo” is?

Promenade

Ballet of the ChickensBallet of the Chickens

The next six paintings are in the same gallery

Samuel Goldenberg and SchmuyleSamuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle

Limoges: The Market PlaceLimoges: The Market Place

The CatacombaeThe Catacombae

What is this?

The Hut on Fowl’s LegsThe Hut on Fowl’s Legs

The Great Gate of KievThe Great Gate of Kiev

The Grande Finale!The Grande Finale!

Pictures of MussorgskyPictures of Mussorgsky

As a young man

This was painted days before his death