“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.
La Grande Porte De Kiev / Das grosse Tor von Kiew
for: Brass band, organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315909
Per Pianoforte
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 257120
Oper in 3 Akten nach N. Gogol
Russische Musik der Moderne
Piano reduction
Item no.: 193879
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1383503
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242651
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1262423
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299333
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299329
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299317
Klassik
for: Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1289227
from 'Pictures at an Exhibition'
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 901466
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 951605
aus Bilder einer Ausstellung
for: Cello, harp [piano]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 331414
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 140414
Limited Edition Marching Band
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 803010
Esprit Marching Band
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 805177
Young Band
for: Youth concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 679381
Score
Item no.: 206628
complete version
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1665569
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1198560
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1204679
op. posth. 70/18
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 731815
complete version
for: Brass ensemble (17 parts), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1665180
for: TB soli, SATB divisi, Keyboard [Organ or Piano] or Orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039315
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 662958
Southern Music
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924771
For Violoncello and Piano (Charles Schiff)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 163701
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 922564
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 281538
Russischer Tanz
for: Piano
Item no.: 356469
From Pictures At An Exhibition
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.: 1308063
From Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Treble recorder, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299315
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242658
for: Male choir (TTB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 580343
Klassik
for: Voice (baritone), piano
Buch
Item no.: 187289
Pictures At An Exhibition
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1314646
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1379520
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1386377
Une nuit sur le Mont Chauve / Night on the Bare Mountain
for: Piano
Item no.: 286075
Young Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 806545
Konzertwerk
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 948482
Konzertwerk
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 944987
Konzertwerk
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 946331
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 670477
EMB Album Series for Piano
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 197515
for: Piano
Item no.: 287396
für Sopran und Kammerorchester
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 382600
for: Piano
Item no.: 285719