Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1858

Publication Date

:

1867

Average_duration

:

2:32

"Tell me why, o maiden" is a song composed by Modest Mussorgsky in 1867. It is part of his song cycle "The Nursery" which consists of ten songs based on children's poems. The premiere of the song cycle took place in 1872, after Mussorgsky's death, and it was performed by the famous Russian bass Feodor Chaliapin. The song has a simple structure and is written in the key of G major. It consists of two verses and a refrain, which is repeated after each verse. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a gentle and melancholic character. The accompaniment is also simple, with a gentle and flowing piano part that supports the vocal line. The text of the song is based on a poem by Alexei Tolstoy, which tells the story of a young girl who asks her mother why she is sad. The mother replies that she is sad because she remembers her own childhood, which was full of joy and happiness, but which she can never return to. The girl then asks her mother to tell her stories about her childhood, so that she can understand her mother's sadness. The song is characterized by its simplicity and its emotional depth. It captures the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia and the longing for lost innocence and happiness. The melody and the text work together to create a poignant and touching atmosphere, which is both sad and comforting. Overall, "Tell me why, o maiden" is a beautiful and moving song, which showcases Mussorgsky's talent for creating simple yet powerful melodies and his ability to capture the emotional essence of a text. It is a testament to his skill as a composer and his sensitivity as an artist.

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