Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
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Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, born in 1839, was one of a group of Russian composers known as The Five, who were dedicated to producing a distinctive Russian style of music.
Among Mussorgsky’s closest friends was the archietect and painter, Victor Hartmann. Hartmann died suddenly at the age of only 39. Mussorgsky was devasted by the news of his death. The following year of 1874, he attended an exhibition of his friend’s work. Walking around the exhibition, stopping and gazing at each of the pictures was to inspire Mussorgsky to compose an evocative and masterful tribute to his friend and his aristry.
Mussorgsky composed Pictures at Exhibtition as a cycle of Piano pieces illustrating ten of Hartmann’s pictures linked by a recurring theme to show the viewer moving from one painting to another.
It was later arranged for the orchestra by Maurice Ravel. Ravel wasn’t the first person to attempt arranging the work for orchestra but was undeniably the most successful. He arranged each piece individually, carefully selecting the right combination of instrumnets that would best duplicate Mussorgsky’s original
mood in each. The Promenade theme opens the work to illustrate the viewer (Mussorgsky) ceremonially entering the gallery heralded by a solo trumpet and brass chorale.
The first painting, that of The Gnome - a sketch of a toy nutcracker shaped like a gnome, is accompanied by xylophone, eerie string and brass effects. The Promenade theme, this time played by a solo horn alternating with woodwind, moves the viewer onward.
For The Old Castle, a painting of a troubator singing in front of a castle, Ravel uses a soulful alto saxophone to sing over a sustained bass note that runs all the way through the piece. A trumpet rendition of the Promendade theme accompanied by descant violins forces the viewer onward.
In the Tuileries Gardens, lively woodwinds mirror the playful infants within the painting. A string trio reflects the gossiping nannies who watch over the infants / woodwind.
A solo Euphonium is used to represent the Bydlo( a polish ox-cart) of the next painting Promenade 4. High woodwind and celeste playing the Promenade theme, daydreamingly advance the music and viewer.
Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks, sketches for the ballet Trilbi, is comical. The piano takes precedence and produces a fitting and delightful portrayal.
The next paintings comparing and contrasting two Polish Jews, rich and poor, Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle, are two pencil drawings. Ravel uses full strings playing in unison to capture the richer character and a muted for the poorer.
The Market Place at Limoges, a bustling market place is full of different images. Ravel likewise fills the music with a variety of instruments all plying for attention.
For The Catacombs, the subterranean passages of Paris, Ravel is solems and pensive. It is followed by Cum Mortuis in Lingua Mortua (With the Dead in a Dead Language), not a painting but the viewers thoughts evoked by The Catacombs. The promenade returns in woodwind at first then descends into the bass over which chilling tremolandos slide . The Hut on Fowls' Legs, the home of Baba-Yaga, the witch of death from Russian mythology, is dark and eerie.
The final painting, The Great Gate of Kiev is of a grand design for a monumental city gate. The piece opens with full sustained chords reflecting the grandness of the gate. The piece culminates to a fitting finale as the Promenade returns for its final appearance taking the viewer through the gate to the end.
The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine perform with feeling and captures the spirit perfectfully. It is one of the best recordings available of this wonderful music.
The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Theodore Kuchar, perform with feeling and captures the spirit perfectfully. It is one of the best recordings available of this wonderful music.
“Pictures at an Exhibition” was the first classical album I ever bought. I was enthralled from the outset. The music is breathtaking, carrying the listener into a different and at times exotic world. Each piece has its own distinctive flavour; some majestic, some homourous, some somber and some romantic; all linked by the memorable and captivating promenade theme. Try listening to the music without reading about the tracks and paintings concerned and think about the images it conjours up.
I loved the idea behind the composition. “Pictures at an Exhibition” is typically that of programme music, a feature of the Romantic period (music that tells a story). I love visiting Art Galleries, standing in front of the paintings and imaging the stories behind them and the thoughts of the artist in capturing the likeness. Mussorgorsky seems to reflect all this. Mussorgsky's composition is though not completely accurate. Of the ten paintings, he describes, only three of them actually appeared in the 1874 exhibition commemorating Hartmann (The Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks, Baba Yaga's Hut, and The Great Gate of Kiev). For the rest, Mussorgsky used a degree of artistic licence. Most of the remaining seven were based on pencil drawings, some from Mussorgsky's private collection of his friend’s work.
The CD, released by Naxos on the 10th March 2003, costs only £4.99 making it eminently affordable. Listen to it. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Pictures of Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Ballet of the Unhatched Eggs
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Love the review - sadly I used to play the violin and one of Mussorgsky's pieces almost gave me a nervous breakdown as it was so complicated - but I still love his music. Khiaya =)
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