Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1875

Publication Date

:

1912

Average_duration

:

3:42

Modest Mussorgsky's "Cruel Death: An Epitaph" is a song cycle composed in 1875. The premiere of the work was given by the Russian singer Fyodor Chaliapin in 1912, long after Mussorgsky's death. The cycle consists of three movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Mussorgsky's friend and fellow composer, Arseny Golenishchev-Kutuzov. The first movement, "Lullaby," is a hauntingly beautiful song that tells the story of a mother singing to her dying child. The music is gentle and soothing, with a simple melody that is repeated throughout the piece. The second movement, "Serenade," is a more upbeat and lively song that celebrates the joys of life. The music is full of energy and vitality, with a lively rhythm and a catchy melody. The final movement, "Epitaph," is a somber and mournful song that reflects on the inevitability of death. The music is slow and mournful, with a simple melody that is repeated throughout the piece. The lyrics are a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death, and the music captures the sadness and despair of this realization. Overall, "Cruel Death: An Epitaph" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Mussorgsky's skill as a composer. The music is full of emotion and depth, and the lyrics are poignant and thought-provoking. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of music to capture the human experience and to express the deepest emotions and feelings.

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