Last week, our students, teachers, along with people from local community attended the “Beautiful Sunday” concert performed by Ukrainian pianist Sasha presented by Shenzhen Concert Hall. The theme for the performance was “The inspiration of art---audio-visual piano concert.”

 

Mussorgsky's renowned work Pictures at an Exhibition was played by Sasha. The music brought students and teachers a relaxed and elegant artistic moment in the fast-paced life of work and study, which was really both a visual and audio feast.

 

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Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite of ten pieces (plus a recurring, varied Promenade) composed for piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874. It is a masterpiece of pictorial representation done by music. It is also one of the most creative pieces of music in Russia in the 19th century. 

 

Mussorgsky

Pictures at an Exhibition was created as a memorial to his good friend.

In 1873, Mussorgsky's close friend, the architect and painter Victor Hartman, died of an acute illness. 

He was deeply moved by the paintings of his deceased friend, so he chose ten of them for the inspiration to produce the vivid and unique work named Pictures at an Exhibition to express his grief and respect for his friend.

 

 

Exemplary work for music expressing paintings

 

The work is composed of ten pieces of music related to "pictures" and the theme of "ramble" with interludes. It is so well matched by showing the unique and bold creativity of Mussorgsky. The composition is still popular today.

 

 

Repertorie 

 

Mussorgsky : Pictures at an Exhibition 

Promenade

1. The Gnome

Promenade

2. The Old Castle

3. Tuileries (Children's Quarrel after Games)

4. Cattle

Promenade

5. Ballet of Unhatched Chicks

6. "Samuel" Goldenberg and 'Schmuÿle"

Promenade

7. Limoges. The Market (The Great News)

8. Catacombs (Roman Tomb) – With the Dead in a Dead Language

9. The Hut on Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga)

10. The Bogatyr Gates (In the Capital in Kiev)

 

Collection of three styles: weird, lively and lyrical

Mussorgsky divided the ten compositions into three types.

The three types of music: weird, lively and lyrical styles integrated with each other until the final movement The Gate of Kiev. The composer brought all three elements into the movement, which was very imposing and depicted the composer's own shadow. In the end, the music concluded magnificently.

 

A piano concert can be very beautiful both for sounds and pictures. May this piano concert become your beautiful memory!