pictures at an exhibition 9 original pieces of artwork by victor hartmann 9 original pieces of...

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Pictures at an Pictures at an Exhibition Exhibition 9 original pieces of 9 original pieces of artwork by Victor artwork by Victor Hartmann Hartmann Mussorgsky, shocked Mussorgsky, shocked by Hartmann’s death, by Hartmann’s death, wrote piano piece as wrote piano piece as tribute tribute Ravel commissioned by Ravel commissioned by Sergey Koussevitzky Sergey Koussevitzky to orchestrate to orchestrate Mussorgsky’s piece Mussorgsky’s piece Modest Mussorgsky Maurice Ravel

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Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition

9 original pieces of 9 original pieces of artwork by Victor artwork by Victor HartmannHartmann

Mussorgsky, shocked Mussorgsky, shocked by Hartmann’s death, by Hartmann’s death, wrote piano piece as wrote piano piece as tributetribute

Ravel commissioned by Ravel commissioned by Sergey Koussevitzky to Sergey Koussevitzky to orchestrate orchestrate Mussorgsky’s pieceMussorgsky’s piece

Modest Mussorgsky

Maurice Ravel

Overall TransformationsOverall Transformations

From pictures to piano arrangementFrom pictures to piano arrangement Hartmann’s ideas are transformed from static Hartmann’s ideas are transformed from static to real-time presentationto real-time presentation

From piano to orchestra arrangementFrom piano to orchestra arrangement Hartmann’s ideas are more specifically Hartmann’s ideas are more specifically presented through diverse instrument timbrespresented through diverse instrument timbres

With every transformation, the ideas behind With every transformation, the ideas behind Hartmann’s original artwork are reinterpreted Hartmann’s original artwork are reinterpreted with added dimensionswith added dimensions

Hartmann’s sketches: Ballet of Hartmann’s sketches: Ballet of the Unborn Chicksthe Unborn Chicks

Originally Originally commissioned as commissioned as costume design costume design sketches for 1871 sketches for 1871 production of the production of the ballet ballet TrillbyTrillby

Eggshell costumes Eggshell costumes represent chicks in represent chicks in shells prior to shells prior to hatchinghatching

Mussorgsky’s “Ballet of the Mussorgsky’s “Ballet of the Unborn Chicks”Unborn Chicks”

““Scherzino – vivo, leggiero”: jokingly, Scherzino – vivo, leggiero”: jokingly, lightheartedly, alivelightheartedly, alive

Grace notes imply movement, unborn Grace notes imply movement, unborn chicks pecking at shellchicks pecking at shell

Trills (right) & quick pulse (left) – Trills (right) & quick pulse (left) – unsteadiness, wavering of limbs inside unsteadiness, wavering of limbs inside shellsshells

High F grace-note consistently used – High F grace-note consistently used – chicks cheepingchicks cheeping

Ravel’s “Ballet of the Unborn Ravel’s “Ballet of the Unborn Chicks”Chicks”

Woodwinds used to vocalize chicksWoodwinds used to vocalize chicks Bassoon bass to indicate clumsiness of Bassoon bass to indicate clumsiness of

the unborn chicks in shellsthe unborn chicks in shells Trills given to strings for fluttery soundTrills given to strings for fluttery sound Use of glockenspiel, cymbal splashes Use of glockenspiel, cymbal splashes

and triangle for ringy, whimsical effectand triangle for ringy, whimsical effect Piccolo cheeping sound (high F)Piccolo cheeping sound (high F)

Hartmann’s Pictures of Two Hartmann’s Pictures of Two JewsJews

Poor JewPoor Jew HopelessHopeless

Rich JewRich Jew ConfidentConfident

Hartmann visited Jewish ghetto in Hartmann visited Jewish ghetto in Sandomir, Poland in 1868Sandomir, Poland in 1868

Mussorgsky’s “Samuel Goldenberg and Mussorgsky’s “Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuÿle”Schmuÿle”

2 pictures 2 pictures 1 piece examining 1 piece examining relationshiprelationship

Rich Jew speaks firstRich Jew speaks first Low Low deep, powerful voice deep, powerful voice Two hands in unison Two hands in unison assertive assertive Slow tempo, pauses for breath Slow tempo, pauses for breath composed composed

Poor JewPoor Jew High, with quick repeated notes High, with quick repeated notes weak, weak,

high-pitched whininghigh-pitched whining Triplet tremolo Triplet tremolo teeth chattering, body teeth chattering, body

shakingshaking

Mussorgsky's “Samuel Goldenberg and Mussorgsky's “Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle”Schmuyle”

Rich Jew starts talking before poor Rich Jew starts talking before poor Jew finishesJew finishes Gets more attentionGets more attention Keeps going after poor Jew stopsKeeps going after poor Jew stops

Ends with both Jews in unisonEnds with both Jews in unison Rich Jew sends poor Jew off with nothingRich Jew sends poor Jew off with nothing

Ravel’s “Samuel Goldenberg and Ravel’s “Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle”Schmuyle”

Brings out contrast between rich and Brings out contrast between rich and poor Jewpoor Jew

Rich JewRich Jew Strings (and woodwinds) playing tuttiStrings (and woodwinds) playing tutti

Poor JewPoor Jew 1 muted piccolo trumpet over 1 muted piccolo trumpet over

accompanimentaccompaniment Ends with two voices in unison, but Ends with two voices in unison, but

different timbresdifferent timbres

Hartmann’s Hut on Chicken Hartmann’s Hut on Chicken LegsLegs

Pencil sketch design for a Pencil sketch design for a clock 14th century clock 14th century Russian styleRussian style

The clock sits on two The clock sits on two hen’s feet. It is the House hen’s feet. It is the House of Baba Yaga (a fairy-tale of Baba Yaga (a fairy-tale motif) motif)

Very ornate with rope-like Very ornate with rope-like and textile ornamentation and textile ornamentation and patterns and patterns

The Story of Baba YagaThe Story of Baba Yaga Baba Yaga is a witch who Baba Yaga is a witch who

lives in a house on lives in a house on chicken feetchicken feet

She kills and eats little She kills and eats little children; crushing their children; crushing their bones in her giant mortar bones in her giant mortar in which she flies aroundin which she flies around

Both Hartmann and Both Hartmann and Mussorgsky have an Mussorgsky have an interest in old Russian interest in old Russian cultureculture

Mussorgsky's House on Mussorgsky's House on Chicken Legs Chicken Legs

Music is not very representative of Music is not very representative of the clock design, other than quarter the clock design, other than quarter note = 120, making each measure note = 120, making each measure last exactly one second…like a clocklast exactly one second…like a clock

Music is Music is Mussorgsky'sMussorgsky's representation of the story of Baba representation of the story of Baba Yaga…her flying in a mortar chasing Yaga…her flying in a mortar chasing after little childrenafter little children

Mussorgsky continuedMussorgsky continued

Starts with low rumble in the left handStarts with low rumble in the left hand Pounding,with a repetitive Pounding,with a repetitive

descending line….like she is circling descending line….like she is circling her preyher prey

Trills and descending chromatic Trills and descending chromatic scale…create tensionscale…create tension

The tone is angry and frantic, created The tone is angry and frantic, created by a flurry of notes by a flurry of notes

Ravel’s Hut on Chicken Ravel’s Hut on Chicken LegsLegs

Pretty loyal to Mussorgsky's Pretty loyal to Mussorgsky's version, but with more depth and version, but with more depth and texture…he has different voices to texture…he has different voices to work withwork with

blaring harsh brass, loud blaring harsh brass, loud percussion, high flutes add percussion, high flutes add contrastcontrast

Hartmann’s The Great Gate of KievHartmann’s The Great Gate of Kiev Design competition for Design competition for

gategate Commemorate Tsar Commemorate Tsar

Alexander II’s escaped Alexander II’s escaped assassinationassassination

Competition ultimately Competition ultimately called offcalled off

Hartmann’s designHartmann’s design Archway on granite pillarsArchway on granite pillars Russian state eagle at peakRussian state eagle at peak ““Blessed is he that cometh Blessed is he that cometh

in the name of the Lord”in the name of the Lord”

Mussorgsky's “The Great Gate of Kiev”Mussorgsky's “The Great Gate of Kiev”

ExpositionExposition Powerful opening processional tunePowerful opening processional tune Repeated several times, emphasis on majestyRepeated several times, emphasis on majesty

Religious undertonesReligious undertones Intertwining of Russian Orthodox Church choir Intertwining of Russian Orthodox Church choir

musicmusic ““As you are baptized in Christ”As you are baptized in Christ”

Mussorgsky's “The Great Gate of Kiev”Mussorgsky's “The Great Gate of Kiev”

Recapitulation and closeRecapitulation and close Introduction of super triplets then Introduction of super triplets then

regular triplets into pieceregular triplets into piece Return of open theme superimposed on Return of open theme superimposed on

top of developed religious themetop of developed religious theme End with the opening of Gates of KievEnd with the opening of Gates of Kiev

Ravel’s Ravel’s “The Great Gate of Kiev”“The Great Gate of Kiev”

Use of tutti brass in opening to encapsulate Use of tutti brass in opening to encapsulate grandeurgrandeur

Contrasted by soft woodwind choir interludesContrasted by soft woodwind choir interludes Orchestral ornamentationOrchestral ornamentation

Ending written in 3/2, original in 2/2Ending written in 3/2, original in 2/2 Straight triplets only Straight triplets only Doubling of half notes in endDoubling of half notes in end

Representation of church bellsRepresentation of church bells Pulsating, dissonant mass of soundPulsating, dissonant mass of sound Restatement on end note for finalityRestatement on end note for finality

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

There are multiple transformations There are multiple transformations taking place. The Hartmann pictures taking place. The Hartmann pictures – Mussorgsky piano piece – Ravel – Mussorgsky piano piece – Ravel orchestrationorchestration

Every time a piece of art is Every time a piece of art is transformed, a new dimension is transformed, a new dimension is added.added.

TransformationsTransformations

From Pictures to Music-- an From Pictures to Music-- an element of timeelement of time

From Piano to Orchestra -- an From Piano to Orchestra -- an element of texture and colorelement of texture and color

Transformations tend to adapt Transformations tend to adapt the original work to the the original work to the conventions of the time…thus conventions of the time…thus transformations help ensure the transformations help ensure the survival of the original worksurvival of the original work

Works ReferencedWorks Referenced

1. Brown, David. 1. Brown, David. Mussorgsky: His Life and Works.Mussorgsky: His Life and Works. 2002: 2002:

University Press, Oxford.University Press, Oxford. 2. Calvocoresi, M.D. 2. Calvocoresi, M.D. Modest MussorgskyModest Mussorgsky. 1956: Salisbury Square, . 1956: Salisbury Square,

London.London. 3. Eagen, Tim. Images for Pictures at an Exhibition: 3. Eagen, Tim. Images for Pictures at an Exhibition:

http://www.stmoroky.com/reviews/gallery/pictures/http://www.stmoroky.com/reviews/gallery/pictures/hartmann.htm. Jan. 2000.hartmann.htm. Jan. 2000.

4. Mussorgsky, Modest. 4. Mussorgsky, Modest. Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition [piano score]. [piano score]. 1983: 1983: Breitkopf & Breitkopf & Hartell Wiesbaden.Hartell Wiesbaden.

5. Mussorgsky, Modest. 5. Mussorgsky, Modest. Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition [sound [sound recording]. 1997: recording]. 1997: Longworth, Peter.Longworth, Peter.

6. Ravel, Maurice. 6. Ravel, Maurice. Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition [musical score]. 1929: [musical score]. 1929: Boosey & Hawkes, London.Boosey & Hawkes, London.

7. Ravel, Maurice. 7. Ravel, Maurice. Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition [sound recording]. [sound recording]. 1993: 1993: New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein.New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein.

8. Russ, Michael. 8. Russ, Michael. Musorgsky: Pictures at an ExhibitionMusorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition. 1992: . 1992: Cambridge Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.University Press, Cambridge.