Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1870

Publication Date

:

1882

Average_duration

:

2:53

"Going to Sleep" is a solo piano piece composed by Modest Mussorgsky in 1874. It is part of his larger work, "Pictures at an Exhibition," which was written in memory of his friend, artist Viktor Hartmann. The piece was premiered in 1874 by Mussorgsky himself, and has since become a popular addition to the piano repertoire. "Going to Sleep" is the tenth movement in "Pictures at an Exhibition," and is characterized by its gentle, lullaby-like melody. The piece is written in the key of F major and is marked "Andante" (moderately slow). The left hand plays a simple, repetitive pattern of broken chords, while the right hand carries the melody. The piece is relatively short, lasting only about two minutes. The melody of "Going to Sleep" is simple and soothing, with a gentle rise and fall that mimics the rhythm of breathing. The piece is meant to evoke the feeling of a child drifting off to sleep, and Mussorgsky achieves this through his use of dynamics and phrasing. The melody starts softly and gradually grows louder, before fading away again at the end. The piece is also notable for its use of rubato, with Mussorgsky encouraging the performer to take liberties with the tempo in order to create a more expressive performance. Overall, "Going to Sleep" is a beautiful and peaceful piece of music that showcases Mussorgsky's skill as a composer. Its simplicity and gentle melody make it a popular choice for pianists of all levels, and its inclusion in "Pictures at an Exhibition" adds to the overall narrative of the work.

More....