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Topic: Moussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (Read 2124 times)

jockey

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 16

Moussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition

on: January 19, 2016, 06:01:38 PM

My favourite repertoire for listening to, at present, is Moussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition. There are lots of good examples on you- tube for listening to, including the score to follow along as the piano is being played.
I have purchased the score for the piano music from Schirmer`s Library of Musical Classics, and I have begun to explore pieces already. There is a lot of variety and different skill levels, or so it seems, and some pieces more difficult than others.

I hope to improve my sight reading skills over time and renew my motivation, by studying something altogether different from last year.

Ive no idea about the level of difficulty, or how I might progress, but I`m sure I will enjoy the attempt all the same.

Has anyone chosen this repertoire lately, because I don't remember seeing other posts about this music.

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indianajo

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1105

Re: Moussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition

Reply #1 on: January 20, 2016, 04:12:04 AM

I play this. I bought it in 1983 after I bought my new piano, and desultorily practiced it some when I was working. I quit working in 2008 and have been concentrating on it. I'm down to under a dozen mistakes.
I use the Belwin edition.
I really love this piece.
I haven't showed it to a teacher yet, to find out how "wrong" I am. I've talked to a couple of AGO members and none of them have ever played it. One former high school band director who teaches organ and piano has promised to listen to it if I book a lesson with him. I'm not in touch with any NationalPianoGuild members in this area. I'm not going to pay college tuition prices for this. I did hear it on a master's recital at U of L once.
One issue is many note spans are patently impossible. I cope with this by cutting span from 16 notes to four in some cases. In other cases a middle pedal on a grand might be useful, that sustains only notes down when it is applied. I don't have access to such a grand. A grand is for sale this weekend in Louisville for $200 but I don't have room in my house for it, nor do I have four friends to help move it.
I follow the Fritz Rheiner Chicago Symphony version of 1958 on LP, which is the Revel arrangement. There is also a Stokowski arrangement extant on LP. I can't play as fast as Chicago Symphony does. I take about an hour twenty minutes to get through the piece. I don't roll chords that Chicago Symphony attack all at once.
Have fun with this. Best of luck with your efforts.

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jockey

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 16

Re: Moussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition

Reply #2 on: January 20, 2016, 02:53:08 PM

Thank you for your encouragement. I know I will have to be patient with myself, and learn this music bar by bar, a step at a time. I am an older person trying to improve my skills, and it takes me much longer than others!

However, I do love this music and the piano also, so I intend to work hard at it.

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