# Mussorgsky! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 13, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328 "2003-09-13T03:23:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/1 "2003-09-13T03:23:48Z")
So I was listening to some Mussorgsky for the first time ever today…and wow…his stuff is incredible!! :eek: Hopefully there are a few Mussorgsky experts on here to answer a few questions I have. First off, admittedly, I got his songs of Kazaa. There were only two pieces that I could find (well, there were lots of files available, but they were all of the same two pieces). They were “Pictures at an Exhibition” and “The Great Gate at Kiev”. Upon listening to the Great Gate of Kiev, I realized that its just a subset (sorry, I don’t know the proper musical term) of Pictures at an Exhibition. Now, I also have no idea if the Pictures at an Exhibition mp3 I have is actually the entire piece or just a larger piece. Anyway, what I’m getting at here is that I’d like to see a discography of Mussorgsky’s and in particular, some details on “Pictures”, as this is one kickass piece. ---
**Author:** ![Dizzy\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dizzy\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dizzy_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/2 "2003-09-13T03:41:20Z")
[Here’s](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictures_at_an_Exhibition) some info to get you started. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/3 "2003-09-13T05:20:40Z")
I know jack about Mussorsky, except that _Night On Bald Mountain_ (which I know is not its formal name, but I don’t know what is) is IMO the most rockingest piece of classical music ever. I adore it. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/4 "2003-09-13T05:53:38Z")
Pictures at an Exhibition was written after Mussorgsky went to an art showing of a friend of his who had died. Each bit in the piece represents a different painting (Great Gate of Kiev being the end of the whole piece). He wrote it as a piano solo piece, but Maurice Ravel arranged it for orchestra, which now is probably the more ‘commercially’ well known version of the music. Also, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer do a very cool rendition of various parts on their album of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/5 "2003-09-13T05:53:39Z")
If you like Mussorgsky, you’ll have to see the Disney animated feature [Fantasia](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0032455/combined) (1940) for an unforgettable [visual rendition](http://www.inetres.com/gp/anime/fantasia/index3.html) of Mussorgsky’s _Night on Bald Mountain_. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/6 "2003-09-13T06:15:10Z")
Although I didn’t mention it in my OP, I’m well aware of Night on Bald Mountain, and with its use in Fantasia. It too is an awesome piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/7 "2003-09-13T07:03:05Z")
If you enjoy M. then you would probably also like Rimsky-Korsakov’s work (who, if I remember correctly reorchestrated a few of Mussorgsky’s pieces). Or rather- just check out the music of the “The Five” - that is, the major composers of the 19th century Russian school of composition: Mussorgsky Balakirev Cui Borodin Rimsky-Korsakov People who like one _generally_ seem to dig the others. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/8 "2003-09-13T07:12:47Z")
Wow, a whole thread dedicated to Time/Life’s “Classical Thunder” CDs. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/9 "2003-09-13T09:56:58Z")
Isn’t Baba Yaga based on a Russian folk tale about a witch who lived in a hut perched on giant chicken legs? I thought she went around and kidnapped children. **Trigonal Planar** you might enjoy this story…when I was a child my parents didn’t own enough furniture to fill both the living and family room, so the family room was empty except for the stereo, perched on a desk. Every Halloween my father would turn off all the lights, put on “Bald Mountain”, tell the story of the song in exquisite detail, and then offer us some outrageous sum (like a $1.00) to go into the family room and turn on the lights. Of course, no one ever did! ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/10 "2003-09-13T17:11:19Z")
Much of “Pictures at an Exhibition” was used as background music for “The Smurfs” Saturday morning TV show in the '80s. Just thought I’d toss that out there. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/11 "2003-09-13T17:22:17Z")
I love Mussorgsky’s stuff… however I always seem to add extra letters to his name when saying it:D He is one of two classical artist my 7 yr old can identify by sound. The other is Rimsky- Korsakov… its all about Fantasia. (thats there for the Disney hating posters;) ) ---
**Author:** ![tunabreath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@tunabreath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tunabreath)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/12 "2003-09-13T18:03:54Z")
Mussorgsky is wonderful. I don’t care as much for Ravel’s arrangement for orchestra and it seems that’s the only way it gets performed. I prefer the solo piano much more. All those crazy Russians! Wonderful! Try Prokofiev (I love the Scythian Suite, very energetic, frantic), Shostakovich, Rachmaninnov (forgive my spelling, my CD’s are packed as I’m MOOOVING!) I agree with **Eonwe** , ELP is where I cut my teeth on looking for classical piano works. (ELP did a bit of Prokofiev as well) I found another rare gem one day about 15 or more years ago. Anrzej Panufnik’s “Sinfonia Sacra”. This man, a Polish composer/conductor, used percussion the way Palmer of ELP played. Fascinating to hear percussion being played by a bunch seamlessly enough to sound like one person. ELP would love it. I’m sad to read looking up about him for this post he died not too many years after I bought some of his work. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/13 "2003-09-13T18:09:09Z")
Thanks **tunabreath** I had a massive brainfart on Prokoviev when I posted earlier. And Rach rocks!😉 ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/14 "2003-09-13T19:11:32Z")
I don’t know about Rachmanninov and Rimsky-Korsokov – I haven’t heard much by the two, but what I have heard struck me as rather dull (ie, just a bunch of violin/piano twiddling - which isn’t my style). I’ve got some Shostakovich and its pretty good. Prokofiev though, is absolutely spectacular. His Alexander Nevsky score (and in particular, “Arise, People of Russia”) is incredible. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/15 "2003-09-13T22:49:15Z")
Also check out two excerpts from Mussorgsky’s opera “Boris Goudonov” - the coronation scene and the death of Boris. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/16 "2003-09-14T04:36:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > **I don’t know about Rachmanninov and Rimsky-Korsokov – I haven’t heard much by the two, but what I have heard struck me as rather dull (ie, just a bunch of violin/piano twiddling - which isn’t my style).** Then you obviously weren’t listening to the right pieces. Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerti #1 & 2 Symphony #1 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Rimsky-Korsakoff: Russian Easter Overture Capriccio Espagnole (Spanish Caprice) Scheherazade KaZaA sucks for classical music; people only share the same 3 files. Try a store, since some good CDs are available for under $5. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/17 "2003-09-14T05:45:58Z")
Scheherazade is precisely the piece is was referring too! Okay, I guess I was wrong about the piano twiddling (I know nothing about music, instruments etc.), but its just a very “generic” sounding piece with your usual horns and violins just sort of pacing along. I like the big “powerful” pieces and Scheherazade is definitely not a big powerful orchestral piece. I can spend the day humming and tapping away to Night on Bald Mountain (dooo do do do do doo doooo do do doooo do do dooo) but Scherazade??? No way. But I’ll look into the other stuff 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/18 "2003-09-14T06:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > **I like the big “powerful” pieces and Scheherazade is definitely not a big powerful orchestral piece.** We can’t be talking about the same piece of music! \*[Schehrezade](http://courses.wcupa.edu/frichmon/mue332/fall2001/rubinskyjoel/music.html) \* contains some massive, melodic, swelling orchestral movements, shimmering with orchestral coloration. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/19 "2003-09-14T13:03:51Z")
Oh Yeah! _Schehrezade_ is the bomb! I really hope our orchestra plays it someday! Right now we’re doing Holst’s _Planets_, and of course _Mars_ is a heart-stopper! I love that I’m pregnant while we’re playing this, I keep thinking the twins have got to be rockin’ in there! Tchaikovsky is another easy-to-love worth checking out, both _The 1812 Overture_ and _Capriccio Italien_ rule (the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra recording, with Erich Kunzel, is a wonderful version IMHO!). The other thing I’d suggest is renting _Amadeus_. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328/20 "2003-09-14T14:12:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > **I like the big “powerful” pieces and Scheherazade is definitely not a big powerful orchestral piece.** Hmm… I’m going to stay civil here and just say I feel sorry for you, that you need your music to be “powerful” and have a good singable melody, which I think _Scheherazade_ has. There’s nothing generic about the music telling the story of “1001 Nights,” with the solo violin acting as the storyteller. So instead of wasting bandwidth trying to convince you that music doesn’t have to hold you down and force its meaning down your throat, I’ll direct you to two threads where we try to convince **Mort Furd** to expand his horizons. [Classical music for a blockhead](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=184916) [How relevant is classical music?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183410) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mussorgsky/201328.md?page=2)