“Art is not an end in itself, but a means of addressing humanity.” Modest Petrowitsch Mussorgski (1839 - 1881)
This was Mussorgski’s main focus and driving force, the truthful portrayal of human life, and all its trials and tribulations. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all the tumultuous highs and lows of Mussorgsky’s music today.
Mussorgsky was born into a wealthy, aristocratic family with a strong military tradition. After finishing his studies at the Cadet School of the Guard in St. Petersburg, Mussorgsky joined the Russian Imperial Guard. He soon gave up his commission to focus on his music. To that end, he held various positions as a civil servant to support his artistic and social development. Having got a taste for it at Cadet School, in his mid-twenties, Mussorgsky had his first issues with alcoholism. After his mother’s death in 1865, he fell into a deep depression which, along with his bohemian lifestyle, saw his alcoholism consume him, which resulted in an inability to work as an artist and composer. Despite the sincere efforts of his friends, particularly Rimsky-Korsakov, his brighter moments became few and far between. He finally succumbed to his vices, and died at the young age of 42.
The fundament of Mussorgsky’s music is realism. Its musical expression is gross, like the truth of life. Mussorgski’s music does not enchant but captivates with its emotional and dramatic charge. With this psychologically penetrating, harsh musical language, Mussorgsky influenced the entire up-and-coming generation of modern composers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The high point of Modest Mussorgsky’s artistic output is often viewed as his operas “Boris Godunov” and“ Khovanshchina”, which explore many new ideas, such as their dramatic musical structure, setting of folk texts, grand expressiveness amongst others. Numerous autobiographical elements can also be found in all his dramatic works.
An important part of the Mussorgsky’s work is his 60 songs, which reflect well the tragic nature of his troubled soul. The most famous symphonic works are “A Night on the Bald Mountain” and the cycle “Pictures at an Exhibition”, originally composed for piano, which today is mainly performed in the instrumental arrangement by Maurice Ravel.
aus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2079
Une Larme, 2eme Mazurka
for: 2 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1073252
für Orchester
Studienpartitur
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 485755
aus: Der Jahrmarkt von Sorotschinzy (unvollendete Oper
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 637133
aus: Bilder einer Ausstellung
for: Recorder orchestra
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1023202
for: Solo for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Recorder, Trombone, Euphonium Violin, Viola or Violoncello & Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1251412
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 588662
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210279
Night On The Bare Mountain
Cine Magic
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 592330
Schüler im Konzert 21
Einführung in Hamburger Schülerkonzerte
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 372283
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 951618
for: Voice and Orff-Instruments
Book
Item no.: 990309
Werkeinführung
Die Oper – Schriftenreihe über musikalische Bühnenwerke
Students book
Item no.: 106137
für 4 Trompeten, Horn, 4 Posaunen und Tuba
for: Brass ensemble (10 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 638143
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 579456
Klassik
for: Clarinet [saxophone], piano
Buch
Item no.: 303196
aus dem Zyklus "Bilder einer Ausstellung"
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 2080
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 1631801
Collection Nobuya Sugawa "Saxy Ever"
for: Saxophone (SATBar) und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1356581
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 129050
A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 616170
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1204584
for: Guitar or Lute
Score
Item no.: 412905
for: Orchestra and Piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 197735
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242664
op. posth. 70, Nr. 15
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 3448
Hal Leonard Flex-Band Series
for brass, woodwind or strings / includes percussion
for: Flexible ensemble (5 voices); drums ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 609753
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210368
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1531117
Instrumentation by Maurice Ravel
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 758475
Mephistos Lied in Auerbachs Keller
for: Voice (high), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1648
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299331
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Horn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299326
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299318
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242666
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242665
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242657
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242653
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242652
for: Concert band
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1639499
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210276
for: 5 clarinets (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1667301
Musikalisches Volksdrama in 5 Akten
Libretto
Lyric book
Item no.: 241448
from "Pictures at an exhibition"
for: Brass ensemble (8 parts), organ, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1023500
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 988085
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1382771
Ein Miesterwerk im Spiegel seiner Zeit
Heft + Medienpaket
Im Fokus (Lehrmaterial) (Teaching material)
Item no.: 614384
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1386495