Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition Primary: Pre-K & K

1. Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an ExhibitionPrimary: Pre-K & K Day at the Louvre

2. Mussorgsky-Russian Nationalism • Nationalism swept over Europe in 1850’s. • Nationalism is a pride in one’s country. Establishing artistic, musical, and literature specific for the certain country without another country’s influences. • Mussorgsky and four other musicians were considered “The Russian Five” • They composed and centered around music specifically for Russia.

3. Mussorgsky-Pictures at an Exhibition • Artist and architect Victor Hartmann, one of Mussorgsky’s close friends was also a nationalist. • At 39 Hartmann died stunning the entire Russian artistic community. • A memorial exhibit of Hartmann’s work was organized and displayed in 1874. • Under the inspiration of that showing, Mussorgsky conceived of his Pictures at an Exhibition.

4. Pictures at an Exhibition • Originally written for piano, later arranged for full orchestra by Ravel. • Feature 10 movements with a promenade between them. • The entire work is a musical example of Mussorgsky’s thoughts and feelings about going to his friend’s memorial exhibition and looking at his different pictures.

5. Promenade • On your visit to an art exhibition, or museum, you might want to casually stroll, looking at all the lovely artwork. • You will “Promenade” until something really interesting catches your eye, then you may walk faster or with a purpose of seeing it closer. • That is when you study the piece of artwork, until you understand it’s story. • Then you will again “Promenade” until you reach another piece of artwork.

6. Tuileries-Dispute Between Children at Play • Jardin des Tuileries is near the Louvre in Paris • Hartmann’s original picture of the children having a dispute in this garden is lost, however this is how the Jardin, garden, looks today.

7. Primary’s Task-Listen to the differences in the music…Draw and Dance Dynamics • Does the music get louder and softer in some areas than in others? • How can you draw the difference in loud or soft? Form • When does the music change? • Are there different sections to the music? • Do the different sections repeat? • How can you draw the different sections in the order you hear them?

8. Example of Listening Map…Music-Tuileries, Dispute Between Children at Play. • How can you draw the different sections in the order you hear them? Form… Does the Music Change? • Are there different sections in the music? Yes, one sounds happy the other sounds sad/angry. • Do the sections repeat? Yes, first is sounds happy, then sad/angry, then happy again.

9. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks • Hartmann's costume design for the 1871 fantasy ballet Trilby shows dancers enclosed in enormous eggshells, with only their arms, legs and heads protruding.

10. Primary-Ballet of Unhatched Chicks Listening Map Listening Map-Passport • Listen to music of Unhatched chicks and raise hand when music changes. • What do you picture during the different sections of music? • Draw your Listening Map in your Passport

11. Primary-Ballet of Unhatched ChicksDance Dance • Once the listening map in your passport is complete, you may now dance like the unhatched chicks. • Dance showing the different sections of music. Remember… • Represent the music in your dancing. • Always be respectful and safe with yourself and others while your dancing.