Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Fantasy

Compose Date

:

1868

Average_duration

:

3:48

"Night, for voice & orchestra" is a composition by Modest Mussorgsky, a Russian composer who lived from 1839 to 1881. The piece was composed in 1867, and it premiered in 1886, five years after Mussorgsky's death. "Night" is a single-movement work that lasts approximately six minutes. It is scored for a solo voice and a small orchestra, consisting of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The text of the piece is a poem by Arseny Golenishchev-Kutuzov, a Russian poet who was a friend of Mussorgsky's. The piece is characterized by its haunting, atmospheric quality. Mussorgsky's use of orchestration is particularly effective in creating a sense of darkness and mystery. The strings are used to create a sense of tension, while the woodwinds and brass provide a sense of color and texture. The percussion is used sparingly, but when it is used, it is used to great effect, adding to the overall sense of unease. The vocal part is also notable for its use of extended techniques, such as glissandos and portamento. The vocal line is often quite angular, with wide leaps and sudden changes in dynamics. The text of the poem is also quite evocative, with images of darkness, silence, and the unknown. Overall, "Night" is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Mussorgsky's skill as a composer. Its haunting quality has made it a popular choice for performances and recordings, and it remains a beloved piece of Russian classical music.

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