Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Jun 22, 1865

Publication Date

:

1923

Average_duration

:

2:53

Modest Mussorgsky's "The Outcast" is a song cycle composed in 1867. It premiered in St. Petersburg in 1874, four years after Mussorgsky's death. The cycle consists of six movements, each depicting a different aspect of the life of a social outcast. The first movement, "The Outcast," sets the tone for the cycle with its mournful melody and somber lyrics. The protagonist is a beggar who has been cast out of society and left to wander the streets alone. The second movement, "The Magpie," is a lively and playful piece that tells the story of a magpie stealing a piece of bread from the outcast's hand. The outcast chases the bird, but ultimately gives up and resigns himself to his fate. The third movement, "The Flea," is a humorous and satirical piece that pokes fun at the outcast's poverty and lack of hygiene. The protagonist sings about a flea that has taken up residence in his beard, and how he can't afford to buy soap to wash it away. The fourth movement, "The Peasant," is a poignant and nostalgic piece that tells the story of the outcast's childhood. He remembers the simple pleasures of playing in the fields and swimming in the river, and longs for a return to those carefree days. The fifth movement, "The Soldier," is a dramatic and intense piece that tells the story of the outcast's time in the army. He sings about the horrors of war and the senseless violence that he witnessed. The final movement, "The Death of the Outcast," is a haunting and melancholy piece that brings the cycle to a close. The outcast sings about his impending death and the loneliness that he feels as he prepares to leave the world behind. Overall, "The Outcast" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Mussorgsky's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotions and experiences of those on the fringes of society.

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