M Musorgsky biography for children. Mussorgsky short biography and interesting facts

Mussorgsky's biography will be of interest to everyone who is partial to his original music. The composer changed the course of development musical culture, but his achievements were not recognized during his lifetime, as often happens with geniuses who were ahead of their time. Mussorgsky's operas "Boris Godunov" and "Khovanshchina" are today recognized masterpieces, and his works for vocals and piano are proudly performed the best musicians peace.

Brief biography of Modest Mussorgsky

The composer was born on March 21, 1839 in the village. Karevo, which is located in the Pskov province. The biography of Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky might not have been so successful, but his father was a representative of an old noble family, so the way to high society. Up to ten years of age future celebrity were taught at home, and in 1849 they were sent to the Petrishule School - one of the oldest and best educational institutions St. Petersburg. Without finishing it, in 1852 Modest transferred to the School of Guards Ensigns - a privileged military school, within whose walls many were raised prominent figures Russia.

One of the School's teachers, Father Krupsky, recognized talent and taught Mussorgsky to understand deep essence church music. In 1856, the young man’s training came to an end. After graduating from the School, Modest served for some time in the Life Guards, then in the engineering department, and after that in the Ministry of State Property, which was in charge of state lands, as well as in state control.

"The Mighty Bunch"

In the 60s, Modest Petrovich became a member of " Mighty bunch" - a community of outstanding composers in St. Petersburg. By this time, the young man had become a well-educated and erudite Russian officer, spoke fluent French and German, understood Greek and Latin.

Mily Alekseevich Balakirev, who was only two years older than Modest and was the founder of the “Mighty Handful,” forced the young composer to devote more time to music studies. He played important role in the biography of Mussorgsky. Mily Alekseevich personally supervised the reading of orchestral scores, taught to analyze the harmony and form of works greatest composers world, tried to develop critical thinking skills. Until 1871, the master did not create a single large musical composition. This period of the biography of Modest Mussorgsky was not marked by a single significant achievement. The composer wrote short songs and romances, but was unable to complete a single opera, although he made repeated attempts.

First major success

First a major work became the opera "Boris Godunov", created on the basis of the work of A. S. Pushkin. In 1870, the composer presented the materials of the opera to the directorate Imperial theaters, but was refused without explanation. However, one of Mussorgsky’s friends was a member of the director’s committee and told the author that the opera was rejected due to the lack of the so-called “female element.” Modest Petrovich finalized the work, and in 1874 its first grand premiere took place on the stage of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater.

Biography of Mussorgsky: the last years of his life

In the 1870s, the collapse of the famous “Mighty Handful” began. The difference in views on music and its development led to the fact that society almost disintegrated and transformed. Modest Petrovich experienced this event painfully and considered the other members to be musical conformists, cowardly and hopeless, betrayers of the great Russian idea. Mussorgsky believed that other composers were short-sighted, that they did not create anything valuable, nothing new, but only rewrote what had already been created and voiced long ago.

A dark period has come in the biography of Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky. His work invariably met with misunderstanding from critics, spectators and officials. The composer's works were rejected everywhere. However, the most painful thing for the author was the rejection of his bold ideas by his close friends - members of the “Mighty Handful” Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui, and Balakirev. The stubborn author could not believe that he was wrong everywhere. It hurt him to be different sides barricades with friends.

Experiences, constant refusals and rejection led to a nervous breakdown and alcoholism, but the composer continued to create even in this state. He never took notes, did not write drafts, he carefully thought through all the ideas, and then wrote down the completely finished work. This method of work, combined with an unstable mental state and constant drunkenness, led to a slow pace of work.

In a short biography of Mussorgsky, it should be mentioned that he resigned from the “forestry department” and lost stable income. After this, the composer lived on occasional one-time earnings and the help of wealthier friends. His friend, singer Leonova D.M., took Modest Petrovich with her on tour around southern regions. Mussorgsky acted as an accompanist and also performed his own works. His bold, harmonious improvisation pleased the audience, and his concerts were a constant success. The composer realized that his innovative view of music had finally received recognition.

Last performance

The last public concert in the biography of M. Mussorgsky took place on February 4, 1881. An evening in memory of Dostoevsky was held in St. Petersburg, where Modest Petrovich performed along with other musicians. A portrait of the writer was installed on the stage, the composer took a seat at the piano and performed an impromptu funeral chime of bells. Those present were amazed at the depth of his grief.

On February 13, Modest Petrovich had an attack of delirium tremens, and he was urgently hospitalized. Already in the hospital, Ilya Repin visited the master and wrote the only lifetime portrait genius composer. A month later, Mussorgsky's heart stopped forever. He was buried on the territory of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Creation

Mussorgsky's biography consists of ups and downs. His original, unique understanding of music was not understood by his contemporaries, but his descendants considered him a genius. Modest Petrovich rejected routine, did not recognize authorities, ignored the rules, considering them only a collection of archaisms. All his life the author strived for novelty. The composer's main specialization is vocal music. With the help of sound, the author knew how to give words weight, the right emotion and touch the listener deeply.

However, Modest Petrovich achieved his most significant success in the field of opera. He created a special variety of this genre, which he called " musical drama". During this period, romantic operatic aesthetics was popular, but Mussorgsky completely rejected the existing canons. With the help of specific musical methods he created a tragic collision, which he embodied in the work "Boris Godunov". Critics were unkind to the author's innovative ideas, calling the libretto unsuccessful and the music rough. Even close friends, members of the “Mighty Handful” considered Mussorgsky inexperienced and noted the absence storyline and lack of character development. Modest Petrovich's music received recognition only after the death of the author.

The most famous works:

• opera "Boris Godunov";
• opera "Khovanshchina";
• opera "Sorochinskaya Fair";
• song "Where are you, little star?";
• romance “I have many towers and gardens”;
• romance "What do you need words of love";
• lullaby "Sleep, sleep, peasant son."

When describing a brief biography of Mussorgsky, one cannot fail to note an interesting fact from life outstanding composer. Although the author did not create literary works, his extraordinary literary skill was manifested in letters, which were subsequently published in the form of a separate book.

To familiarize educators with the biography and most famous works composers. They can use the information received to reinforce the material with children. music lesson or when using musical works in your classes.

(03/21/1839, Karevo estate (Pskov region) - 03/28/1881, St. Petersburg)

Russian composer, one of the most daring innovators XIX century, who had a huge influence on the development of Russian and European musical art.

My childhood was spent in the atmosphere of a Russian landowner's estate.

First musical knowledge Mussorgsky received it from his mother (he learned to play the piano).

The composer M. P. Mussorgsky wrote about himself that he was “the son of an old Russian family.” In those years, nobles sent their sons to cadet and guards schools. Thirteen-year-old Modest was also sent to such a school. One day a concert was organized at school. The students listened with admiration to how brilliantly the newcomer improvised on the piano. And after some time, he surprised his comrades with another surprise, bringing to school a thin notebook of the notes he had just published. The thirteen-year-old author dedicated this work - the polka "Lieutenant Ensign" - to his "comrades in the cadet school." Mussorgsky successfully completed the school of guards ensigns and cavalry cadets.

The service has begun. And, probably, it would have gone on for a long time if it had not been for the meeting with the composer A. S. Dargomyzhsky. In his house, Mussorgsky first heard the works of M. I. Glinka and felt that he wanted to study, work and devote himself to art. Soon he met the wonderful musician M. A. Balakirev and other future members of the “Mighty Handful” - the creative community of advanced Russian composers - A. P. Borodin, N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, T. A. Cui. These acquaintances played a decisive role in future fate Mussorgsky. Now music becomes the main thing in his life. And he decides to leave his brilliant military service. Hard work, self-education become his life. The composer's talent is growing rapidly.

Then he studied at the guards school in St. Petersburg, achieving significant success. At the same time, he took piano lessons from the famous teacher A. Gerke.

In 1858, Mussorgsky resigned, despite the entreaties of his family and friends.

From that time on, Mussorgsky devoted himself entirely to music, working non-stop.

A difficult life and constant lack of money undermined the composer’s already disturbed health. He died at the age of forty-two, without having time to finish many of the works he began. But what he created puts him among the world's greatest composers. Friends who highly valued Mussorgsky's talent collected his unfinished materials, processed them, added some notes, and orchestrated them.

Recent years During his life, Mussorgsky was seriously ill and after a concert trip with the singer D. Leonova (in the summer of 1879) he no longer wrote anything. Died in 1881.

Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" is not one of the composer's major works: the world knows him rather as the author of Russian opera frescoes, "Boris Godunov" and "Khovanshchina". In comparison, “Pictures at an Exhibition,” written for the piano based on paintings by the artist Hartmann, is a very modest work. Moreover, these paintings are almost childish: they depict colorful scenes from fairy tales or everyday sketches (“Tuileries Garden”, “ Old castle", "Ballet of Unhatched Chicks", "Cattle")...However, it was in "Pictures at an Exhibition" creative manner Mussorgsky manifested itself in full brilliance.

"Baba Yaga" depicts a well-known evil witch flying on a broom, with which nannies scare children. In this play, the composer paints this scene very naturally, almost visibly: throws, jolts, blows are heard, Baba Yaga accelerates and flies whistling and whooping as expected evil spirits. The main theme is similar to an accidentally snatched fragment from a Russian dance; to such music you can jump and squat with your hands on your hips, or you can ride a broom. In the middle part an enchanted forest is shown: sounds tremble, rustle, a mysterious knock is heard - a few strokes show the nature of the night.

And after a brief repetition of the theme of flight, Baba Yaga almost lands on the very

"Bogatyr Gate" Music comes in that could very well be Russian anthem, there is so much strength and power in her, so strong is her connection with the Russian folk spirit– this melody resembles a broad song of praise. To make the picture of the sparkling heroic gates in the city of Kyiv even more impressive.

Modest Petrovich Musorsky was born into a family of nobles on March 21, 1939 in the village of Karevo, Pskov province. His mother taught him music from childhood. The young man received his first education at the age of eleven, graduating from the Peter and Paul School. A year later he completed his studies at the Komarov boarding school. After another four years at the School of Guards Ensigns and Cavalry Junkers.

Simultaneously with his service in the Life Guards, the young man met A.A. Gerke and learned from him virtuoso playing on the piano. At the same time, Modest met Dargomyzhsky and Balakirev. Later, the young man becomes a member of the “Mighty Handful” group, which left its mark on the work of the young composer..

Since 1858, having left service with the rank of ensign, young composer devotes himself entirely to music. Nine years later, the symphony “Night on Bald Mountain” was written. A year later, romances based on poems by Russian poets were published. Six years later, the premiere of the opera “Boris Godunov” took place in St. Petersburg. The composer was jubilant; it was a success.

A year earlier, work began on the opera Khovanshchina. Work on this work lasted for seven long years. Unfortunately, during the author’s lifetime the world did not see this work. Only years later did Rimsky-Korsakov finalize and instrument the opera.

In 1974, the composer wrote ten works for Hartmann's drawings. These are the famous pieces for piano “Pictures at an Exhibition”. A little later he begins to work on the vocal cycle “Songs and Dances of Death”. Work on the cycle continues for three long years.

Two years later, Mussorsky begins work on the opera “Sorochinskaya Fair”. It has comedic Gogolian motifs. However, this work was not finished. Only after the death of the author was the opera completed by Cui.

Poverty forces Mussorsky to return to service, which did not give him pleasure, but allowed him to somehow exist. At this time, Modest Petrovich stops writing.

2, 3, 4, 5 grade interesting facts

Biography of Mussorgsky briefly for children

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839-1881) is an outstanding Russian composer-innovator. Came from ancient noble family. It is curious that the composer began using the letter “g” in his surname only in the 1860s. V private correspondence. In 1852-56. Mussorgsky studied at the school of ensigns. That’s exactly what his first work was called, “Lieutenant Ensign.”
Since 1856 - ensign of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. On military service he met A.P. Borodin, around the same time Mussorgsky met M.A. Balakirev, A.S. Dargomyzhsky, V.V. Stasov.

Since 1857 he was a member of the “Mighty Handful” - music club, striving to embody the Russian national idea in music.

Since 1866, Mussorgsky was friends with N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. Under the influence of the ideas of N.G. Chernyshevsky and his novel “What is to be done?” lived with friends in a commune community. The search for a livelihood led the composer to public service.

Since 1863, Mussorgsky served in the Engineering Department, then moved to the Forestry Department of the Ministry of State. properties, and then to the State Audit Commission. control. He also performed at concerts as a pianist; in July-September 1879 he made a long trip to the cities of southern Russia, where he performed together with D.M. Leonova, talented singer and a friend of the composer.
The second half of the 1870s, the time after the collapse of the “Mighty Handful,” coincided with the creative and personal crisis of M.P. Mussorgsky, the appearance of a nervous disorder and alcohol dependence. Mussorgsky took criticism hard, including from people who were considered like-minded people. All this greatly slowed down the creative process.

One of latest performances composer took place at the evening in memory of F.M. Dostoevsky 4.2.1881. On February 13, Mussorgsky suffered an attack of delirium tremens. He was placed in the Nikolaev military hospital, where I.E. Repin wrote famous portrait composer, reflecting his difficult physical and emotional state. March 16, 1881 M.P. Mussorgsky passed away. He was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, at the Tikhvin cemetery.

The most strikingly innovative musical discoveries of Mussorgsky, mostly not understood by his contemporaries, manifested themselves in his operas, the most famous of which are Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina. In Boris Godunov, the epic-tragic and psychological lines are inseparable, which actually turns the opera into a psychological drama.

The historiosophical work “Khovanshchina”, in turn, is distinguished by the absence of pronounced central characters and shows the events associated with the Streltsy uprisings. XVII century, as a spiritual tragedy of the entire people.

Completed in 1872, Khovanshchina never saw the light of day during Mussorgsky’s lifetime. Among the composer’s other works, the most famous are “Night on Bald Mountain” and “Pictures at an Exhibition” (this work was reinterpreted by a number of musicians, from M. Ravel to the rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Many works by M.P. Mussorgsky after his death were finalized and edited by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov.

2, 3, 4, 5 grade for children

Interesting facts and dates from life

Hardly any of the Russian classics can be compared with M.P. Mussorgsky, a brilliant self-taught composer, in the originality, daring and originality of the ways of implementing ideas, which in many ways anticipated the musical art of the 20th century.

Even among like-minded people, he stood out for his courage, determination and consistency in upholding ideals

Vocal creativity of Mussorgsky

Vocal music occupies a decisive place in creative heritage composer. In the collection " Early years"(50-60s) he continues to develop the line of A. Dargomyzhsky with a tendency to strengthen. The collection marked the onset creative maturity the composer and determined the range of images and moods (with the exception of satirical ones, which will appear later); big role belongs to images peasant life, the embodiment of the characters-representatives of the people. It is no coincidence that the culmination of the collection is considered to be romances to the words of N. Nekrasov (“Kalistrat”, “Lullaby to Eremushka”).

M.P. Mussorgsky

By the end of the 60s. the composer's works are filled satirical images(a whole gallery of satires is embodied in “Rike”). On the verge of mature and late periods The “Children’s” cycle appears based on its own text, which is a series of psychological sketches (the world through the eyes of a child).

Mussorgsky's later work is marked by the cycles “Songs and Dances of Death”, “Without the Sun”, and the ballad “Forgotten”.

Vocal works of Modest Petrovich generally cover next lap moods:

• lyrics, present in the most early works and subsequently turning into increasingly tragic tones. The lyrical-tragic culmination of this line is vocal cycle"Without Sun" (1874);

• line " folk pictures", sketches, scenes of peasant life(“Kalistrat”, “Lullaby to Eremushka”, “Orphan”, “Tsvetik Savishna”), leading to such peaks as the ballad “Forgotten” and “Trepak” from the cycle “Songs and Dances of Death”;
• line of social satire(romances of the 60-70s: “Seminarist”, “Classic”, “Goat” (“Secular Tale”), the climax - “Raek”).

A separate group of works that do not belong to any of the above are the vocal cycle “Children’s” (1872) and “Songs and Dances of Death” (except for “Trepak”).

Developing from lyrics through everyday life, satirical or social sketches, the vocal music of the composer Mussorgsky is increasingly filled with tragic moods, which become almost defining in his life. late creativity, fully embodied in the ballad “Forgotten” and “Songs and Dances of Death”. Sometimes more, sometimes less clearly, but the tragic theme has been heard before - already in “Kalistrata” and “Eremushka’s Lullaby” we can feel the acutely dramatic strain.

He rethinks the semantic essence of the lullaby, preserving only external signs genre. So, both “Kalistrat” and “Lullaby to Eremushka”

(which Pisarev called a “vile lullaby”)

- not just lulling; this is a dream of happiness for a child. However, the poignant theme of the incomparability of reality and dreams turns the lullaby into a lament (the culmination of this theme will be presented by the cycle “Songs and Dances of Death”).

A kind of continuation tragic theme observed

• V « Orphan" (tiny child begging),
• « Svetik Savishna" (the grief and pain of the holy fool rejected by the merchant's wife - an image most fully embodied in the Holy Fool from the opera "Boris Godunov").

One of the tragic peaks of Mussorgsky’s music is the ballad “Forgotten” - a work that united the talents of Vereshchagin (in the anti-war series he wrote, crowned with “The Apotheosis of War”, there is the painting “Forgotten”, which formed the basis of the idea of ​​​​the ballad), Golenishchev-Kutuzov (text) . The composer also introduces into the music the image of the soldier’s family, using the technique of contrasting comparison of images: the highest degree of tragedy is achieved by juxtaposing, against the backdrop of a lullaby, the promises of a mother cradling her son and talking about the father’s imminent return, and the final phrase:

“And he is forgotten - he lies alone.”

Vocal cycle “Songs and Dances of Death” (1875) - culmination vocal creativity Mussorgsky.

Historically in musical art image of death, which lies in wait and takes away life often at the most unexpected moments, was expressed in two main forms:

• dead static, rigidity (in the Middle Ages, the sequence Dies irae became such a symbol);

• the depiction of death in the Dance macabre (dance of death) is a tradition coming from the Spanish sarabands, where the funeral took place in movement, a solemn mourning dance; is reflected in the works of Berlioz, Liszt, Saint-Saens, etc.

Mussorgsky's innovation in connection with the embodiment of this theme lies in the fact that Death now not only “dances”, but also sings.

The large-scale vocal cycle consists of 4 romances, in each of which death awaits the victim:

• 1 hour “Lullaby”. Death sings a lullaby over the child's crib;

• 2 hours “Serenade”. Taking the form of a knight errant, Death sings a serenade under the window of a dying girl;
• 3 hours “Trepak”. The peasant freezes in the blizzard, frosty steppe, and Death sings his song to him, promising light, joy and wealth;
• 4 hours "Commander". The grand finale, where Death appears on the battlefield as a commander, addressing the fallen.

The ideological essence of the cycle is protest and struggle against the omnipotence of death in order to expose its lies, which is emphasized by “falsity”, insincerity in the use of each of everyday genres, which underlie its parts.

The musical language of M.P. Mussorgsky

Recitative intonation base and masterfully developed piano part vocal works the composer is realized through forms, often marked by signs of the author’s individual style.

Opera creativity

Just like vocal music, opera genre Mussorgsky clearly reveals the originality and power of his talent as a composer, as well as his progressive views, ideological and aesthetic aspirations.

3 operas are completed in the creative heritage

“Boris Godunov”, “Khovanshchina”, “Sorochinskaya Fair”;

remained unrealized

"Salambo" (historical story),

“Marriage” (there is 1 action),

a number of plans that were not realized at all.

The unifying point for the operas (except for “Marriage”) is the presence folk images as fundamental and they are used:

• in general terms, as a collective image of the people, the people as a single hero;

• individualized representation of individual heroes-representatives of the people.

It was important for the composer to turn to folk subjects. If the concept of “Salambo” was the story of the clash between Carthage and Rome, then in other operas he is not concerned ancient history, but - Rus' at the moments of the highest upheavals, at the most time of troubles its history (“Boris Godunov”, “Khovanshchina”).

Mussorgsky's piano work

This composer’s piano work is represented by the only cycle “Pictures at an Exhibition” (1874), which, nevertheless, entered the history of music as a bright, outstanding work Russian pianism. The concept is based on the works of W. Hartmann, and a cycle consisting of 10 plays is dedicated to his memory ( « Gnome", "Old Castle", "Tuileries Park", "Cattle", "Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks", "Two Jews", "Limoges Market", "Catacombs", "Baba Yaga", "Golden Gate" or "Bogatyrsky" gate"), periodically alternating with a special theme - “Walk”. On the one hand, it depicts the composer himself walking through a gallery of Hartmann's works; on the other hand, it personifies the Russian national origin.

The genre uniqueness of the cycle, on the one hand, refers to a typical program suite, on the other hand, to the rondal form, where “Walk” acts as a refrain. And taking into account the fact that the theme of “Walk” is never repeated exactly, features of variation appear.

Besides, « Pictures from the exhibition" are being collected expressive capabilities piano:

• coloristic, due to which an “orchestral” sound is achieved;
• virtuosity;
• in the music of the cycle the impact is noticeable vocal style composer (both songfulness and recitability and declamation).

All these features make Pictures at an Exhibition a unique work in the history of music.

Symphonic music by M.P. Mussorgsky

An exemplary work in the field symphonic creativity is Midsummer's Night on Bald Mountain (1867) - a witches' Sabbath, continuing the tradition of Berlioz. Historical significance work - that this is one of the first examples of evil fantasy in Russian music.

Orchestration

The innovation of M.P. Mussorgsky as a composer in his approach to the orchestral part was not immediately understood: the opening of new horizons was perceived by a number of contemporaries as helplessness.

The main principle for him was to achieve maximum expression in expression with minimal use of orchestral means, i.e. its orchestration takes on the nature of vocals.

The musician formulated the essence of the innovative approach to the use of musical expressive means something like this:

“...to create expressive forms of speech, and on their basis - new musical forms.”

If we compare Mussorgsky and the great Russian classics, in whose work one of the main things is the image of the people, then:

• unlike Glinka, who is characterized by a portrait method of display, for Modest Petrovich the main thing is to show folk images in development, in the process of formation;
• Mussorgsky, unlike Glinka, distinguishes from the masses individual characters, representing the people. In addition, each of them acts as a bearer of a certain symbol (for example, Pimen from “Boris Godunov” is not just a sage, but the personification of history itself).

Mussorgsky Modest Petrovich - famous Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, member of the "Mighty Handful".

Biography

Childhood

Mussorgsky was born into a landowner family. His father, Pyotr Grigorievich, belonged to an ancient noble family. His mother, Yulia Ivanovna (nee Chirikova), instilled in little Modest a love of music from childhood. He was the fourth most youngest child in the family, but two older brothers died in infancy, and Modest was raised with his brother Filaret.

Education

Until 1849 Modest received home education, and then together with his brother he entered the German school Petrishule in St. Petersburg. Without graduating from college, the future composer entered the St. Petersburg School of Guards Ensigns. During all this time, Mussorgsky did not give up his piano lessons with Anton Gorke.

Creative path

Mussorgsky and music were inextricably linked. Firstly, he had an excellent chamber baritone, and therefore at all evenings he was asked to perform something. Secondly, being an excellent pianist, he began to compose musical works early. The musical luminaries of that time - M. A. Balakirev, V. V. Stasov and Ts. A. Cui, who at that time had already organized the famous "Mighty Handful" - were able to appreciate it. One of the most consistent members of this creative circle and Mussorgsky became.

Already in 1852, his first piano piece “Lieutenant Ensign” was published, inspired by his studies at the School of Guards Ensigns, after which Mussorgsky served for 2 years in the Preobrazhensky Regiment.

In 1860, his scherzo was performed under Rubinstein at a concert of the Russian Musical Society.

After this, Mussorgsky begins to work on larger forms. He started writing music for famous tragedy Sophocles "Oedipus", but never finished his creation. Operas based on Flaubert's "Salammbô" and Gogol's "Marriages" remained unfinished. The first major plan that Modest Petrovich brought to completion was the opera “Boris Godunov”.

Being poor, he cannot devote himself entirely to his favorite music. Due to financial difficulties, he has to constantly work in the public service: in the Engineering Department, Forestry Department, Audit Commission State control. He also made money by performing.

Since 1872, Mussorgsky has been working on the folk musical drama “Khovanshchina” and “Sorochinsk Fair” based on Gogol.

From the mid-70s, a crisis began in Mussorgsky’s work, which was caused by the collapse of the “Mighty Handful”. Modest Petrovich largely accepted this collapse as betrayal and cowardice of its members - Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui and others. The consequence was depression, which ended in alcoholism. In 1879, singer D. M. Leonova tried to get him out of this terrible state by organizing a tour for him in the south of Russia.

Personal life

Many musicologists are still trying to unlock the secrets personal life Mussorgsky, although everything is prosaically simple. Modest Petrovich was never married and had no children. Many biographers explain these facts gay composer, as evidenced by his personal letters. Mussorgsky's heartfelt affections were Victor Hartmann and Arseny Golenishchev-Kutuzov.

Hartmann was famous architect, a talented set designer, artist and very interesting person. Many explain the composer’s binge not with the collapse of the “Mighty Handful,” but with Hartmann’s death in 1873.

Count Golenishchev-Kutuzov was a poet, prose writer, and publicist. Their relationship with Modest Petrovich was unclear and vague, but many of the composer’s biographers call him the tragic passion of Mussorgsky’s entire life.

Next to his name is mentioned and female name- Nadezhda Petrovna Opochinina, who was his close friend, adviser and connoisseur of his works. She died the same year as Victor Hartmann, which intensified Mussorgsky's pain from the loss of those closest to him.

Death

Mussorgsky died in 1881 in a military hospital after an attack of delirium tremens. He was buried, like many great people of that time, at the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Mussorgsky's main achievements

• The musical language and dramaturgy of Mussorgsky's new genre, musical drama, marked a break with routine opera house of that time, its action has since been carried out specifically musical means. The first musical drama was the opera Boris Godunov.
• His “Khovanshchina” became the first folk musical drama in which layers of deep folk life, the theme of folk spiritual tragedy is revealed.
• Mussorgsky's musical works have had an impact great influence for many generations of composers: on their basis, the styles of M. Ravel, C. Debussy, as well as the musical and theatrical works of L. Janacek, D. D. Shostakovich, I. F. Stravinsky, A. Berg, O. Messiaen and others were formed.
• The specific melody and harmony of Mussorgsky's musical works anticipated many features musical harmony XX century.

Important dates in Mussorgsky's biography

• 1839 - birth
• 1849 - admission to the German school Petrishule (St. Petersburg)
• 1852–1856 - training at the School of Guards Ensigns
• 1852 - first edition piano piece"Sub-ensign"
• 1856–1858 - service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment with the rank of ensign
• 1863–1867 - civil service official of the Engineering Department
• 1867 - “Night on Bald Mountain”
• 1868–1880 - served as an official in the Audit Commission of the State Audit Office
• 1869 - opera "Boris Godunov"
• 1972 - work on “Khovanshchina”, “Children’s”
• 1874 - beginning of work on the “Sorochinskaya Fair”, a cycle of pieces for piano “Pictures at an Exhibition”
• 1877 - vocal cycle “Songs and Dances of Death”
• 1879 - tour in the south of Russia with singer M. Leonova
• 1881 - death

• Mussorgsky had an excellent musical memory and could immediately remember the most complex operas by Wagner. Once, having just become acquainted with Siegfried, he immediately played Wotan’s scene from memory.
• The composer began writing the letter “g” in his last name only in 1863, and before that time he signed all documents as “Musorsky.”
• The only lifetime portrait of Mussorgsky was made by I. E. Repin in a military hospital, after the composer’s delirium tremens, just before his death.
• In 1935–1937, the Necropolis of Art Masters was reconstructed. As a result, the area in front of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was expanded and the line of the Tikhvin cemetery was moved. At the same time, many graves, including Modest Petrovich’s, were rolled up with asphalt. Now there is a bus stop at the burial site of the great composer.