Write a story for the play Old Castle. Composer M
Today we will look at the work created by M. P. Mussorgsky - “The Old Castle”. It was originally written for piano, but has been repeatedly arranged by composers for orchestral performance and processed in various musical styles.
Story
Let's start with how Mussorgsky created his work. "The Old Castle" is a piece that is part of the "Pictures at an Exhibition" suite. A series of musical “images” is dedicated to the memory of the composer’s friend, the artist and architect V. A. Hartman.
Mussorgsky, “Old Castle”: compositional features
The work was created in 1874. The basis for the play was Hartmann's watercolor of Italian architecture. The sketch of the painting has not survived. The exhibited works were actively sold; the location of the inspiration painting is unknown. Mussorgsky's work "The Old Castle" describes a corresponding medieval structure. A troubadour is singing in front of him. The composer manages to revive this character. To do this, he uses a thoughtful, smooth melody, sounding against the background of a monotonous measured accompaniment. This kind of music evokes a lyrical, contemplative mood. The troubadour's song is filled with the knightly Middle Ages. Music conveys the idea that the artist depicted through paint.
Author
Mussorgsky, according to the reviews of his contemporaries, is an excellent pianist. He captivated listeners when he sat down at the instrument. Through sound he knew how to recreate any picture. At the same time, this composer composed relatively little instrumental music. He was most attracted to opera. It was to her that Mussorgsky devoted most of his creative energy. The Old Castle, however, is one of his most famous works. He set himself the artistic task of creating a psychological portrait and penetrating the souls of his characters.
A TALE IN MUSIC
Modest Mussorgsky. old lock
1st lesson
Program content. Teach children to feel the mood of music, to distinguish between expressive means that create an image.
Progress of the lesson:
P a g o g Have you ever seen an old castle? Thick stone walls, high towers, fancy, elongated windows with carved bars...
The castle usually stands in a picturesque place, on a high mountain. It is harsh, powerful, surrounded by a fence - thick walls, ramparts, ditches. Listen to how music can paint a picture of an old castle, performed by a symphony orchestra.
Listening: Modest Mussorgsky. “The Old Castle” from the series “Pictures at an Exhibition” (performed by a symphony orchestra).
This play was written by the wonderful Russian composer Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky. It is part of his “Pictures at an Exhibition” series. You are already familiar with some of the plays from this cycle.
The play is interesting because the music, without the help of words, very expressively depicts the picture of a gloomy, stern old castle, and we feel some extraordinary spirit of mystery and antiquity. It’s as if the castle is visible in the fog, surrounded by an aura of mystery and magic. (The play is performed again.)
2nd lesson
Program content. To develop children's creative imagination, the ability to express the nature of music in words and drawings.
Progress of the lesson:
Educator Listen to a piece in which the music paints a picture of an old castle, performed on the piano (performs a play, children remember its name).
Listening: Modest Mussorgsky. “Old Castle” from the series “Pictures at an Exhibition” (piano performance).
Pedagogue: What do you think, does anyone live in this castle or is it abandoned, uninhabited? (Performs fragment.)
Children. There is no one in it, it is abandoned, empty.
Pedagogical: Why do you think so, how did the music tell about this?
Children. The music is frozen, sad, quiet, slow, mysterious.
Pedagogical: Yes, the music sounds mysterious, magical, as if everything had frozen, fallen asleep. The same sound in the bass is repeated quietly and monotonously, creating a character of numbness and mystery.
The melody against this gloomy, sleepy magical background sounds sad, mournful, sometimes with some excitement, as if the wind is howling in the empty chambers of the castle. And again everything freezes, remains motionless, becomes silent...
Do you know the fairy tale about the sleeping beauty? It tells how the princess pricked her finger with a spindle and fell asleep for many, many years. She was bewitched by an evil sorceress. But the good sorceress managed to soften the witchcraft, and she predicted that the princess would wake up when a beautiful young man fell in love with her. Everyone who was in the castle at the ball fell asleep with the princess. The castle fell into numbness, became overgrown, covered in cobwebs and dust, everything froze for hundreds of years... (A fragment plays.) Maybe the composer wanted to depict such a castle or another - the castle of Koshchei the Immortal, in which there is nothing living, a gloomy, scary, dull castle? (A fragment plays.)
Come up with your own fairy tale about an ancient castle so that it is close in spirit and mood to this music, and draw a castle that appears in your imagination when you listen to this music. (The play is performed again.)
Presentation
Included:
1. Presentation - 8 slides, ppsx;
2. Sounds of music:
Modest Mussorgsky. “The Old Castle” from the series “Pictures at an Exhibition” (piano and symphony orchestra performance), mp3;
3. Accompanying article - lesson notes, docx;
4. Sheet music for independent performance by the teacher, jpg.
Piano cycle by M.P. Mussorgsky's “Pictures at an Exhibition” is an original, unparalleled musical work that is included in the repertoire of the most famous pianists around the world.
History of the cycle creation
In 1873, the artist V. Hartmann suddenly died. He was only 39 years old, death found him in the prime of his life and talent, and for Mussorgsky, who was a friend and like-minded person of the artist, it was a real shock. “What horror, what grief! – he wrote to V. Stasov. “This mediocre fool mows down death without reasoning...”
Let's say a few words about the artist V.A. Hartmann, because Without a story about him, the story of M. Mussorgsky’s piano cycle cannot be complete.
Victor Alexandrovich Hartman (1834-1873)
V.A. Hartmann
V.A. Hartmann was born in St. Petersburg into the family of a French staff doctor. He was orphaned early and was raised in the family of an aunt, whose husband was a famous architect - A.P. Gemilian.
Hartmann successfully graduated from the Academy of Arts and worked in various types and genres of art: he was an architect, stage designer (he was involved in the design of performances), artist and ornamentist, one of the founders of the pseudo-Russian style in architecture. Pseudo-Russian style is a movement in Russian architecture of the 19th - early 20th centuries, based on the traditions of Old Russian architecture and folk art, as well as elements of Byzantine architecture.
Increased interest in folk culture, in particular, in peasant architecture of the 16th-17th centuries. Among the most famous buildings of the pseudo-Russian style was the Mamontov printing house in Moscow, created by W. Hartmann.
The building of the former Mamontov printing house. Contemporary photography
It was precisely the desire for Russian originality in his creativity that brought Hartmann closer to the members of the “Mighty Handful,” which included Mussorgsky. Hartmann sought to introduce Russian folk motifs into his projects, which was supported by V.V. Stasov. It was in his house that Mussorgsky and Hartmann met in 1870, becoming friends and like-minded people.
Returning from a creative trip to Europe, Hartmann began designing the All-Russian Manufacturing Exhibition in St. Petersburg and received the title of academician for this work in 1870.
Exhibition
A posthumous exhibition of works by W. Hartmann was organized in 1874 on the initiative of Stasov. It featured the artist's oil paintings, sketches, watercolors, sketches of theatrical scenery and costumes, and architectural projects. There were also some products at the exhibition that Hartmann made with his own hands: a clock in the shape of a hut, nutcrackers, etc.
Lithograph based on Hartmann's sketch
Mussorgsky visited the exhibition and it made a huge impression on him. The idea arose to write a programmatic piano suite, the content of which would be the artist’s works.
Of course, such a powerful talent as Mussorgsky interprets the exhibits in his own way. For example, Hartmann’s sketch for the ballet “Trilby” depicts tiny chicks in shells. For Mussorgsky, this sketch turns into “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks.” The hut clock inspired the composer to create a musical depiction of the flight of Baba Yaga, etc.
Piano cycle by M. Mussorgsky “Pictures at an Exhibition”
The cycle was created very quickly: in three weeks of the summer of 1874. The work is dedicated to V. Stasov.
In the same year, “Pictures” received the author’s subtitle “Memories of Victor Hartmann” and were prepared for publication, but published only in 1876, after Mussorgsky’s death. But several more years passed before this original work entered the pianists’ repertoire.
It is characteristic that in the play “Walk,” which connects the individual plays of the cycle, the composer imagined himself walking through the exhibition and moving from picture to picture. In this cycle, Mussorgsky created a psychological portrait, penetrated into the depths of his characters, which, of course, was not the case in Hartmann’s simple sketches.
So, "Walk". But this play constantly varies, showing a change in the author’s mood, its tonality also changes, which is a kind of preparation for the next play. Sometimes the melody of “Walking” sounds ponderous, which indicates the gait of the author.
"Dwarf"
This piece is written in the key of E-flat minor. Its basis is a sketch by Hartmann with a nutcracker depicted on it in the form of a gnome on crooked legs. First the gnome sneaks, and then runs from place to place and freezes. The middle part of the play shows the character's thoughts (or his rest), and then he, as if frightened by something, again begins his run with stops. Climax – chromatic line and departure.
"Old lock"
The key is G sharp minor. The play is based on a watercolor by Hartmann, created while studying architecture in Italy. The drawing depicted an ancient castle, against which a troubadour with a lute was drawn. Mussorgsky created a beautiful lingering melody.
« Tuileries Garden. Children quarrel after playing»
The key is B major. The intonations, tempo of the music, and its major scale depict an everyday scene of children playing and quarreling.
“Bydło” (translated from Polish as “cattle”)
The play depicts a Polish cart on large wheels, pulled by oxen. The heavy step of these animals is conveyed by a monotonous rhythm and rough strokes of the lower register keys. At the same time, a sad peasant chant sounds.
"Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks"
This is one of the most popular plays in the cycle. It was created in the key of F major according to Hartmann's sketches for the costumes for the ballet J. Gerber "Trilby" staged by Petipa at the Bolshoi Theater (1871). In the episode of the ballet, as V. Stasov wrote, “a group of little pupils and pupils of a theater school, dressed up as canaries and briskly running around the stage. Others were inserted into eggs, as if into armor.” In total, Hartmann created 17 costume designs for the ballet, 4 of which have survived to this day.
V. Hartmann. Costume design for the ballet "Trilby"
The theme of the play is not serious, the melody is humorous, but, created in the classical form, it receives an additional comic effect.
“Samuel Goldenberg and Shmuile”, in the Russian version “Two Jews, rich and poor”
The play was created on the basis of two of his drawings given to Mussorgsky by Hartmann: “A Jew in a Fur Hat. Sandomierz" and "Sandomierz [Jew]", created in 1868 in Poland. According to Stasov’s memoirs, “Mussorgsky greatly admired the expressiveness of these pictures.” These drawings served as prototypes for the play. The composer not only combined two portraits into one, but also made these characters talk to each other, revealing their characters. The speech of the first one sounds confidently, with imperative and moralizing intonations. The speech of the poor Jew is in contrast to the first: on the top notes with a rattling tint (foreshlags), with plaintive and pleading intonations. Then both themes are played simultaneously in two different keys (D-flat minor and B-flat minor). The piece ends with a few loud octave notes, suggesting that the rich man had the last word.
“Limoges. Market . Big news"
Hartmann's drawing has not survived, but the melody of the piece in E-flat major conveys the noisy bustle of the market, where you can find out all the latest news and discuss them.
« Catacombs. Roman tomb»
Hartmann depicted himself, V. A. Quesnel (Russian architect) and a guide with a lantern in his hand in the Roman catacombs in Paris. On the right side of the picture, dimly lit skulls are visible.
W. Hartmann “Paris Catacombs”
The dungeon with the tomb is depicted in the music with two-octave unisons and quiet “echoes” corresponding to the theme. The melody appears among these chords as a shadow of the past.
“The Hut on Chicken Legs (Baba Yaga)”
Hartmann has a sketch of an elegant bronze watch. Mussorgsky has a bright, memorable image of Baba Yaga. It is painted with dissonances. At first, several chords sound, then they become more frequent, simulating a “take-off” - and flight in a mortar. The sound “painting” very vividly depicts the image of Baba Yaga, her lame gait (after all, a “bone leg”).
"Bogatyr Gate"
The play is based on Hartmann's sketch for the architectural design of the Kyiv city gates. On April 4 (old style), 1866, an unsuccessful attempt was made on the life of Alexander II, which later became officially called the “April 4 event.” In honor of the rescue of the emperor, a competition for gate designs was organized in Kyiv. Hartmann's project was created in the Old Russian style: a dome with a belfry in the form of a hero's helmet and a decoration above the gate in the shape of a kokoshnik. But later the competition was canceled and the projects were not implemented.
V. Hartmann. Sketch for the gate project in Kyiv
Mussorgsky's play paints a picture of a national celebration. The slow rhythm gives the play grandeur and solemnity. The broad Russian melody gives way to a quiet theme reminiscent of church singing. Then the first theme enters with renewed vigor, another voice is added to it, and in the second part a real bell ringing is heard, created by the sounds of the piano. The ringing is first heard in a minor key, and then moves into a major key. The big bell is joined by smaller and smaller bells, and at the end small bells sound.
Orchestration of the cycle by M. Mussorgsky
The bright and picturesque “Pictures at an Exhibition,” written for piano, was repeatedly arranged for symphony orchestra. The first orchestration was made by Rimsky-Korsakov's student M. Tushmalov. Rimsky-Korsakov himself also orchestrated one piece of the cycle - “The Old Castle”. But the most famous orchestral incarnation of “Pictures” was the work of Maurice Ravel, a passionate admirer of Mussorgsky’s work. Created in 1922, Ravel's orchestration became as popular as the author's piano version.
The orchestra, in Ravel's orchestral arrangement, includes 3 flutes, a piccolo, 3 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, alto saxophone, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, snare drum, whip, rattle, cymbals, bass drum, tom-tom, bells, bell, xylophone, celesta, 2 harps, strings.
Presentation "Old Castle" 4th grade.
A story about the creation of a work.
Concepts: suite, early music, minstrel, troubadour.
Musical inserts: ancient troubadour music, Mussorgsky's play "The Old Castle".
View document contents
"Presentation "Old Castle""
M.P. Mussorgsky
Presentation for a lesson in 4th grade
Completed by: Grineva L.V. music teacher
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
1839-1881
Russian composer, a brilliant master of musical characteristics.
V.A. Hartmann
In February 1874, a posthumous exhibition of works by the Russian artist-architect Viktor Aleksandrovich Hartmann opened in St. Petersburg.
There was a wide variety of work here: paintings, drawings, sketches of theatrical costumes, architectural projects, models, even skillfully made toys.
The great talent of the artist was felt throughout.
The play is based on a watercolor Hartmann painted while he was studying architecture in Italy.
The drawing depicted an ancient castle, against which a troubadour was drawn.
Mussorgsky has a beautiful drawn-out melancholic melody.
MINSTREL - in the Middle Ages, a wandering poet, musician, troubadour.
Troubadour - in the Middle Ages in Provence (in the south of France): a wandering poet and singer. The troubadours sang of beauty;
Suite – a musical composition that belongs to the genre of instrumental music.
Word "suite" translated from French literally - sequence or alternation.
Suite - This is a multi-part cycle, consisting of several plays, different in character, but connected by a common artistic idea.
Early music
Ancient musical art is an immense layer of world culture.
This concept covers 12 centuries, starting from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (end of the 5th century) and ending with the advent of the era of Classicism (mid-18th century).
Homework:
Write a story for the musical picture by M. Mussorgsky “The Old Castle”
M.P. Mussorgsky "Pictures at an Exhibition"
It is impossible to imagine the piano work of Modest Mussorgsky without the famous cycle “Pictures at an Exhibition”. Bold, truly innovative musical solutions were implemented by the composer in this work. Vivid, satirical images and theatricality are what characterize this series. You can listen to the works, learn interesting facts and the history of creation, and also read musical annotations for each number in this article.
History of creation
Modest Mussorgsky was a sympathetic person by nature, so people were drawn to him and tried to establish friendly relations with him. One of the composer's best friends was the talented artist and architect Victor Hartmann. They spent a lot of time talking and often met, discussing art. The death of such a close-minded person horrified the musician. After a tragic event Mussorgsky I recalled that at the last meeting I did not pay attention to the terrible state of the architect’s health. He thought that such attacks in breathing were the consequences of active nervous activity, which is so characteristic of creative people.
A year after Hartmann’s death, at the behest of Stasov, a huge exhibition was organized, which included the works of a talented master from watercolors to oils. Of course, Modest Petrovich could not miss this event. The exhibition was a success. The artistic works made a strong impression on the composer, so he immediately began composing a cycle of works. That spring, 1874, the writer limited himself to improvisation, but in the summer all the miniatures were ready in just three weeks.
Interesting Facts
- Modest Mussorgsky wrote this cycle of works for piano; the famous composer managed to create the most successful orchestration Maurice Ravel. The selection of timbres fully corresponds to the images. The premiere of the orchestrated version took place in the fall of 1922 in Paris. After the first performance, the forgotten “Pictures at an Exhibition” regained popularity. Many world-famous conductors wanted to perform the cycle.
- The cycle was never published during the author's lifetime. The first publication took place only five years after his death.
- There are 19 orchestrations of this suite.
- Hartmann's gnome is a nutcracker with crooked legs.
- About four hundred different exhibits were presented at the exhibition. Mussorgsky chose only a few of the most striking paintings, in his opinion.
- Unfortunately, the samples of the drawings from which the miniatures were painted were lost.
- Despite the fact that the inspiration was the work of Hartmann, the cycle was dedicated to Stasov, who provided enormous assistance and assistance in the implementation of Mussorgsky's plans.
- The editors of the first collection published in print belong to the genius Rimsky-Korsakov. At the same time, as a teacher at the conservatory, the composer tried hard to correct all sorts of author’s “mistakes.” Thus, the works have lost a lot, they have lost their innovation. Nevertheless, the circulation sold out quite quickly. The second edition was under the leadership of Stasov, who did not change anything in the manuscripts. The popularity of this edition did not live up to the critic's hopes; pianists believed that they were too difficult to perform.
“Pictures at an Exhibition” is a unique suite woven from piano miniatures. The author helps the listener feel like a visitor to Hartmann's exhibition. The paintings change one after another, uniting the entire “Walk” cycle. Despite the fact that the suite has a program, the music paints fairly free images and plots, interconnected by the musical material of the first number. It changes depending on the author’s attitude towards what he sees. In this way, the end-to-end form of the work can be traced and it continuously develops. The alternation of numbers is carried out according to the contrasting principle.
Walk. The first number seems to draw steps. The melody resembles a Russian folk song, not only in its variable meter, but also in its own breadth and depth. The hero entered the exhibition hall. Slowly it approaches, the sonority increases, leading to the climax. In letters to Stasov you can read that the author depicts himself examining various exhibits. Light, cleanliness and spaciousness are the sensations that music gives. As mentioned earlier, the theme of the walk will permeate the suite from beginning to end, constantly changing. The only thing that will remain unchanged is the folk style and majesty.
"Walk" (listen)
Dwarf. Funny and at the same time touching number. A fantastic, slightly absurd creature, which is characterized by constant leaps and angularities in the melody, and also knows how to feel the world. Plaintive intonations show that the gnome is sad. This psychological portrait reveals the versatility of the image. The development of the image is rapid. After reaching the climax, the composer again returns the “Walk” theme, significantly shortened compared to the first version, it connects the two numbers.
old lock. The lyrical hero approaches the next work of art, a watercolor drawing written in Italy. What he sees: an old medieval castle, in front of which a troubadour in love is singing. A sad melody flows from the lips of a young musician. Thoughtfulness, emotion and sadness permeate the musical number. The constantly repeating bass allows you to reproduce the music of the Middle Ages, the theme varies, reminiscent of live singing. The middle part is filled with light, which again gives way to dark shades. Everything gradually calms down, only the last phrase in fortissimo destroys the silence. A short walk to the next picture allows you to modulate into the key of the next number in B major.
“Old Castle” (listen)
Tuileries Garden. A luxurious garden near the Tuileries Palace in Paris is filled with light and joy. Little children frolic and enjoy life in the company of nannies. The rhythm is fully consistent with children's teasers and counting rhymes. The work is polyphonic, two themes are carried out simultaneously, one of them is the image of children, and the other of nannies.
Cattle. The piece begins with a sharp fortissimo, this is a strong contrast. A heavy cart is moving. The two-beat meter emphasizes the simplicity and roughness of the melody. You can hear the creaking of wheels of heavy carts, the lowing of oxen and the joyless song of a peasant. Gradually the music fades away, the cart has gone far, far away. The theme of the first number comes in, but it sounds in a minor key. This conveys the mood of the lyrical hero; he is immersed in his own thoughts.
Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks. The hero did not immediately pay attention to the next exhibit. Vivid sketches for the ballet "Trilby". A light and serene scherzo written in three-movement da capo form. This is the dance of the little canaries. Comedy and naivety literally permeate the number.
“Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks” (listen)
Samuel Goldberg and Shmuile or Two Jews - rich and poor. Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky especially admired two pictures at the exhibition. Figurative expressiveness was evident in this musical number. A special flavor is created using the gypsy color scheme. The second theme is filled with plaintive intonations. In the future, the themes will be connected and sound together. In the story, a poor Jew asks a rich man for help, but he does not agree. The rich man has the last word. This number is characterized by polytonality.
“Two Jews – rich and poor” (listen)
The first part of the cycle ends with a walk, which almost completely repeats the musical material of the first issue.
Limoges. In a small town in France, the most notorious gossips gathered at the market. The hum of conversations does not stop for a second. There is a spirit of bustle and fun all around. One of the most cheerful and cheerful numbers in the suite. But the lyrical hero’s gaze falls on another picture, the music stops and another number begins.
Catacombs. Everything seems frozen, hopelessness and pain dominate this work. The key of B minor has always been a symbol of tragic destiny. The intonation of the complaint conveys the horror of what he saw. The tonal instability determines the dramatic nature of the suite number. The composer seems to want to convey the irreparable feeling of loss that arose after the death of the talented artist Hartmann. The continuation of this number “With the dead in a dead language” sounds. The theme is based on a walk, which sounds slow and tragic. The feeling of grief is conveyed by dissonant harmonies. Tremolo in the high registers creates an atmosphere of tension. Gradually there is a modulation to major, which means that the person has accepted the fate prepared for him.