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

Russian Nationalism  Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer who lived from 1839 –  He was a part of a group of Russian nationalist composers known as “The Five”. They were Mily Balakirev, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolav Rimsky-Korsakov, Aleksandr Borodin and Cesar Cui. Nationalism was a movement in music in which each composer expressed the ideals and cultural aspects of his/her native country.  Mussorgsky was the son of a land owner and became an officer in the Russian Army.  He had no formal training in composition, although he was a gifted musician.  Mussorgsky held various Civil Service positions while he continued to pursue composition.  His most famous works are Pictures at an Exhibition and Night on Bald Mountain. Pictures was originally written for piano and then later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel.

Promenade  You are the viewer taking a walk through the art exhibit. As the music begins, you enter the Museum. Use your imagination and join Mussorgsky in viewing the great works while listening to his exciting music!  As you enter the gallery, you will hear the theme called the Promenade. This theme is heard between each movement.  It indicates that the viewer is leaving one room and entering another room of the museum.  Each time the Promenade is heard, it’s time to view a new painting.

Gnomus  This is the first room of the exhibition. It goes with the first movement of the piece, entitled Gnomus.  What do you think it’s about?  What does the music sound like?  Promenade

The Old Castle  This is the 2 nd movement of the piece.  What part of the castle is this?  What does the music sound like?  Promenade

The Tuilleries

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

Ballet of the Chickens The next six paintings are in the same gallery

Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle

Limoges: The Market Place

The Catacombae What is this?

The Hut on Fowl’s Legs

The Great Gate of Kiev The Grande Finale!

Pictures of Mussorgsky As a young man This was painted days before his death