Front:
MODEST MOUSSORGSKY
REWARD CARD.
Birthplace
T. PRESSER CO., Phila.
Back:
Born March 28, 1835.
Died March 28, 1881.
Modest Moussorgsky
A but lesser, Russian nobility, in Karev, near Pskov.
Coming from a militant ancestry, he was educated in
the Naval College and served his three years' term at
sea. Previously, however, like so many composers, he
received his first music lessons from his mother.
His first musical friend was Borodin. These two,
together with Balakireff (the founder of the movement),
Cui, and Rimsky-Korsakow, constituted the famous
"Five." This group carried on, well into the twentieth
century, the commanding position gained for Russian
music by the great Tschaikowsky. All of these were
brilliant men; all had a special liking for Moussorgsky.
While at sea he still wrote and kept in touch with his
colleagues. In 1874 he scored his greatest success with
the opera, Boris Godunoff, as might have been expected
from this "great, chivalrous Russian; blood aflame for
gorgeousness, bravery, bells, and games."
Always afflicted with a serious nervous condition,
his health failed in 1879 and he was obliged to support
himself by playing accompaniments. He finally sought
the Naval Hospital.
His most striking orchestral piece is Night on the Bare
Mountain, a mad, wild thing, although effective. His
best piano number is the suite, Tableaux d'une Expo-
sition, which is very colorful.
Schon stromt mic
Jos
das Volk aus alle
From "Boris Godunoff"
Mussorgsky
Published by THEODORE PRESSER CO., Philadelphia, Pa.
