Modest Mussorgsky

Modest Mussorgsky

By Giovanni Rodriguez

• born  March 21, 1839, Karevo, Russia

• died March 28, 1881, St. Petersburg, Russia​

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​Modest

Mussorgsky ​

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• Modest Mussorgsky took piano lessons from his mother when he was a child. His father was a wealthy landowner.

• At age ten, the family moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, and Modest continued his piano studies.

• Modest’s family wanted him to become an army officer and enrolled him in a military school.

• After graduation, Modest enlisted in the Russian army.​

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Multiple Choice

Where did he die?

• Moscow,Russia

• Karevo, Russia

• St. Petersburg, Russia

• Dresden, Russia

Multiple Choice

Where was Modest born?

• Karevo, Russia

• St. Petersburg, Russia

• Moscow, Russia

• Dresden, Germany

Multiple Choice

What did most of Modest's family want him to become when he got older in Russia?

• Dentist

• Doctor

• Army officer

• Musician

Multiple Choice

Who taught Mussorgsky to play his first instrument? What was it?

• his mother , he learned the piano

• his army officer, he learned the violin

• his father, he learned the piano

• his colonel, he learned the trumpet

​His time in the Army

• During his two years in the army, Mussorgsky met many musicians.

• great interest in Russian music, and Russians were justifiably proud of the fi e composers which the country had produced.

• Mussorgsky was interested in music, especially in composing

• his only experience in music was several years of piano lessons. Nevertheless, the musicians and composers he met in the army encouraged him.​

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​Learning music in the Army

• met composer named Mily Balakirev agreed to give Mussorgsky lessons in music theory.

• He also studied musical scores by Classical Era composers such as Mozart and Beethoven.

• Mussorgsky left the military in 1858 (age nineteen), and traveled to Moscow.

• Here he had a nervous breakdown. He recovered, and by 1860 began composing music.​

• Mussorgsky had little money, however, and within a year he took a job as a government clerk in the Russian Ministry of Transport.​

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Multiple Choice

What job did Modest take after having a nervous breakdown from writing music?

• Custodian

• Dental Assistant

• Government Clerk for the Russian Ministry of Transport

• Professor of Defense against the Dark Arts

Multiple Choice

While Modest Mussorgsky was in the army, what was the name of the composer that gave him music theory lessons?

• Mily Balakirev

• Boris Godunuv

• Mozart

• Beethoven

​Trouble writing music

• During the 1860s, Mussorgsky completed several songs and short orchestral works.

• He seemed unable to complete large works.

• He began to have health problems and his mental state was fragile.

• Though his skill as a composer grew, Mussorgsky sank deeper and deeper into alcoholism.​

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​His operatic works

• 1868 (age twenty-nine), he began work on an opera which he never completed.

• Two years lager, however, Mussorgsky completed his opera masterpiece, Boris Godunov.

• Twice he submitted it for performance at the St. Petersburg opera and it was turned down both times.

• Eventually it was performed in 1874.

• The audience enjoyed it but the critics did not.

• Even some of Mussorgsky’s musician friends were puzzled by the opera​

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Multiple Choice

Who was not impressed by Mussorgsky's Boris Godunuv when it was performed?

• his mother

• his father

• the audience

• music critics

​His later years in life

• 1873 (age thirty-four), Mussorgsky was totally consumed by his alcoholism.

• He had little money and lived in poverty.

• He continued to compose during the 1870s, though in 1880 his health forced him to leave his government job.

• He died a year later at the age of forty-two.​

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Multiple Choice

What health problem prevented Modest from finishing musical works?

• mumps

• scarlet fever

• alcoholism

• ran out of innk

Multiple Choice

Which Piece was written by Modest Mussorgsky, that was turned away twice by the St. Peters opera performed in 1874?

• songs and dances of death

• picures at an exhibition

• night on bare mountain

• boris goudunuv