Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1864

Publication Date

:

1871

Average_duration

:

3:50

Modest Mussorgsky composed "Night, for voice & piano" in 1867. The piece premiered in 1870 in St. Petersburg, Russia. It consists of a single movement and is approximately four minutes in length. The piece is characterized by its haunting melody and melancholic lyrics. The lyrics, written by the composer himself, describe the loneliness and despair of a person wandering through the night. The piano accompaniment is sparse and atmospheric, creating a sense of emptiness and isolation. The piece begins with a slow, mournful introduction in the piano. The voice enters with the first verse, singing of the darkness and silence of the night. The melody is simple and repetitive, emphasizing the monotony and hopelessness of the speaker's situation. As the piece progresses, the voice becomes more expressive, conveying the speaker's growing sense of desperation. The piano accompaniment becomes more active, adding tension and urgency to the music. The final verse is particularly powerful, with the voice soaring to a high note before descending back down to the somber melody of the introduction. Overall, "Night, for voice & piano" is a poignant and evocative piece that captures the mood of a lonely and desolate night. Mussorgsky's skillful use of melody and harmony creates a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the music has ended.

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