Modest Mussorgsky Libri

English National Opera Guides are ideal companions to the opera. They provide stimulating introductory articles together with the complete text of each opera in English and the original. This famous opera has had a checkered performance history, and Professor Laurel E. Fay points out that the interpretation of the opera depends on which edition is used. Robert Oldani introduces the Boris problem: Pushkin s play was not an obvious choice for a young composer, since it had been banned for40 years, and it is the Russian people, rather than any single character, who is the protagonist. Alex de Jonge examines its uniquely Russian character and notes the unsettling parallels of the history of old Russia with today. Nigel Osborne s comparison of the Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky versions highlights their individual qualities."

Alex Hilliard has updated this 1938 publication for the modern concert band. It utilizes most of Mayhew Lake's original scoring but eliminates such instruments as D-flat Piccolo, E-flat Horns, and B-flat Flugelhorns. The works are fascinating examples of

The study score features a groundbreaking orchestration for wind symphony, created from the composer's original manuscript rather than the previously flawed 1886 piano edition. This unique adaptation highlights the intricacies of wind instrumentation, showcasing the expertise of Alfred Reed, a distinguished American composer known for his contributions to wind music.

Inspired by a witches' sabbath, this orchestral tone poem reflects Mussorgsky's early sketches for an opera that evolved over nearly a decade. Initially conceived in the late 1850s, the project transformed from opera to tone poem, influenced by Liszt's works. Completed on St. John's Eve in 1867, it showcases the composer’s innovative approach to orchestration and thematic development, capturing the eerie atmosphere of the original scenario. This piece stands as a significant early example of the Russian tone poem genre.