Composer

:

Modest Mussorgsky

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Tone Poem

Compose Date

:

1886

Average_duration

:

10:57

"Night on Bald Mountain" is a symphonic poem composed by Modest Mussorgsky in 1867. The piece was later edited and revised by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1886, after Mussorgsky's death. The premiere of the edited version took place in 1886, conducted by Rimsky-Korsakov. The piece is divided into three main sections. The first section begins with a dark and ominous introduction, featuring the low strings and brass. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the addition of the woodwinds and percussion. The second section features a frenzied dance, with the strings and woodwinds playing fast and intricate melodies. The third section returns to the dark and ominous mood of the opening, with the low strings and brass playing a menacing theme. The piece is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which create a sense of unease and tension throughout. The use of the tritone interval, known as the "devil's interval," adds to the ominous and demonic atmosphere of the piece. The frenzied dance section is particularly notable for its use of irregular rhythms and syncopation, which create a sense of chaos and frenzy. Overall, "Night on Bald Mountain" is a powerful and evocative piece of music, which captures the dark and supernatural atmosphere of its subject matter. The edited version by Rimsky-Korsakov has become the most well-known and frequently performed version of the piece, and is considered a masterpiece of orchestration.

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