Musorgsky's favorite work

[Albert Maksimov]

Khovanschina for myself...
I firstly sow it in National Opera in Kiev.It was really Greate!
Musorgsky is very interesting composer...

My Music
http://www.myspace.com/notonlyjazzyahoocom

 

[some guy]

I can't think of anything by Mussorgsky that I don't like. I remember the first time I heard the original Pictures. I had known Ravel's orchestration for at least twenty years before I heard the piano piece, but all I could think was "Who could possibly have thought this needed to be orchestrated? It's as quintessentially pianistic as one could possibly imagine."

But Khovanschina has to be at the top of my list, too. What a stunner that is.

I prefer the Shostakovich/Stravinsky version that Abbado recorded, too. Of course, that may partly be that I prefer Abbado...

 

[Rune Vejby]

I can't think of anything by Mussorgsky that I don't like. I remember the first time I heard the original Pictures. I had known Ravel's orchestration for at least twenty years before I heard the piano piece, but all I could think was "Who could possibly have thought this needed to be orchestrated? It's as quintessentially pianistic as one could possibly imagine."

I tend to disagree. Ravel's orchestration really underlines the very fine impressionistic details of this work. This is one of my all time favourite classical works, especially how he manages to variate on the very simplistic theme of the work. And the final movement is probably one of the best endings ever, IMO.

 

[rojo]

I like both, but I tend to favour Ravel`s orchestration. There`s something about that tuba solo in Bydlo (I think it is,) among other things...

It really works well both ways, imo.

I hear Richter`s version of it on piano is pretty awesome. Think I`ll go look for that...

 

[some guy]

Hmmm. I have a question for Rune. What are you disagreeing about? You show a snippet from my post, and then you say that Ravel's orchestration "really underlines the very fine impressionistic details of this work." But nothing in my post says or implies or suggests any judgment about Ravel's orchestration, good or bad.

So, for the record, I offer this judgment of Ravel's orchestration: it's superb. The other orchestrations I've heard always sound like versions of the Ravel, not orchestrations of the Mussorgsky!

(Now go back and read my post again to see what I REALLY said!!)

 

[pooch6267]

Musorgsky.....

I love Musorgsky's Night on the Bald Mountain. I also love Tchaikovsky and Khatchatourian (especially his "Gayane"). Funny isn't it when I confess that my favourite composer is Chopin?!:smirk: Even now I'm listening to his Nocturne 8 in D-flat major. His music always makes me sigh, dream and wander to days gone by......never to be captured again.
Thanks for your dedication to the site and for the mp3s you allow us to download. I'm saving them for when the stressful days (school) start again next September.
Keep up the good work.

 

[rojo]

Hi some guy,

Not to get involved in your question for Rune, but I also got the impression from your earlier post that you preferred the piano version over the orchestrated one... never mind, now we know exactly what you meant, you having clarified your opinion. In any case, it`s all good.

 

[some guy]

Hey rojo,

Well, as it happens, I do prefer the piano version. But that's as may be. What surprised me was my response to it on my first hearing, after 20 years of loving the Ravel orchestration. And I was just passing on that anecdote about my surprising response.

I've listened to Yellow Shark, by the way. And Greggory Peccary. And will write something up shortly, I promise.

 

[ErikinWest]

Mussorgsky is certainly one my favorites, and I love almost all of his works. There's something incredible raw and unrestrained about Russian music. I like to think as Russian composers as able to capture the grim and powerful heritage of their country.

Erik

 

[Andrew Roussak]

My favourite work of Mussorgsky is no doubt Pictures at an Exhibition. I have heard first the original piano version ( it was definitely TOO EARLY for me - I did not accept it that time ), then the Ravel's orchestration and the version of ELP ( at approximately the same time, I guess ). Now I love all of them - I can't say that I like the orchestrated version more than the piano piece. And the version of ELP is also great , though much critisized that years. For me, it only shows the deepness of Mussorgsky's music - you can listen to it again and again and still find smth. new in it.

 

[doctortornface]

I have a long history with Pictures At An Exhibition, my introduction to it came via a mind blowing Emerson Lake and Palmer gig and the following album. It was a while later I got into the original. Having watched the ELP concert, I really would love to see the original performed live.

 

[janny108]

That's how I came to know it too, by listening to ELP! LOL
Jan

 

[Alban Berg]

You love Moussorgsky...LOL You don't know Moussorgsky...The bald mountain is not a work itself but a little part of his opera: Sorotchinskaya Iarmarka (The market of Sorotchinsky, wriiten by the fabulous Niukolai Gogol)...Moussorgsky rarely completed something....I read somewhere he wasn't very good in orchestration...and he always was drunk! I don't like Moussorgsly very much.

Martin.

 

[some guy]

But Martin, Sorochinsky Fair is from 1874. "Night on Bald Mountain" was an orchestral piece that Mussorgsky wrote in 1867, seven years before.

He also used it, which chorus added, for Mlada, an opera project that he and Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin and Cui were collaborating on in 1872. So there were already two versions of it before "Lad's Dreaming Vision" in Sorochinsky Fair.
And then Rimsky-Korsakov made a rearrangement/reorchestration in 1886, the version most of us are familiar with.

Unless you want to be mocked in return, you should probably make sure of your facts before you mock your fellow travellers!

 

[Alban Berg]

Mussorgsky is the one I like the less of the mighty five...Personally...he was a drunkard, he never completed anything, he was lazy.

Martin

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Martin,

Hey, you pickin' on my bro Modest??? :grin::grin::grin:

Seriously, his vocal works stand the test of time very well - Check out "Mephistopheles Song of the Flea" sung by Martti Talvela. Despite his often being in a drunken stupor he still wrote much that will live on long after I am pushing up daisies

Cheers,


CD :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:

 

[Alban Berg]

Did he compose something completely?

Yes, piano stuff....He was always drunk and knew a little bit of orchestration...He had always had help from his friends! I cannot consider Mussorgsgky as a complete composer.... I prefer Rimsky-Korsakov, Glinka...or Tchaikovsky. Mussorgsky should be forgotten.

Martin...forgetful

 

[some guy]

OK Martin. We've got the measure of your attitude about Mussorgsky.

And as this is a "what is your favorite?" thread, your attitude is slightly off the mark. Repeating it over and over again is way off the mark.

What good does it do, anyway? Does it help anyone appreciate Mussorgsky? Obviously not. Is it a worthwhile activity to discourage anyone from listening to Mussorgsky? (Not that you have that power!) Probably not.

I think I might give Khovanshchina another listen today. I might even drink a glass of wine or two, or some vodka, while I do so.

Hey Martin! Maybe your posts did do some good!! (I'm kidding, of course. I can listen to Khovanshchina--not the Rimsky-Korsakov version*--and drink wine and vodka any day, without any "encouragement".)

*the Abbado performance is the one I favor....

 

[Alban Berg]

well

But Martin, Sorochinsky Fair is from 1874. "Night on Bald Mountain" was an orchestral piece that Mussorgsky wrote in 1867, seven years before.

He also used it, which chorus added, for Mlada, an opera project that he and Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin and Cui were collaborating on in 1872. So there were already two versions of it before "Lad's Dreaming Vision" in Sorochinsky Fair.
And then Rimsky-Korsakov made a rearrangement/reorchestration in 1886, the version most of us are familiar with.

Unless you want to be mocked in return, you should probably make sure of your facts before you mock your fellow travellers!

I DO Have Sorochinsky's market opera (do you?) and the Night of the Bald mountain is part of the opera and part of Gogol's short story...I'm not mockingh anybody...

Martin

 

[Alban Berg]

I agree

Hi Martin,

Hey, you pickin' on my bro Modest??? :grin::grin::grin:

Seriously, his vocal works stand the test of time very well - Check out "Mephistopheles Song of the Flea" sung by Martti Talvela. Despite his often being in a drunken stupor he still wrote much that will live on long after I am pushing up daisies

Cheers,


CD :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:

and the songs and dances for Death...or something are quite acceptable (a bit dark though).

I was speaking about his operas...Please tell me which one he really completed....His drinking problem was chronical...

Martin, curious but not drunk...