Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky and Dmitri Shostakovich
Songs and Dances of Death (Shostakovich version)
- G Schirmer Inc (USA, Canada and Mexico only)
Le Chant Du Monde (France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Andorra, French speaking African countries)
G Schirmer is the publisher of the work in the USA, Canada and Mexico only. Le Chant du Monde is the publisher of the work in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Andorra, French speaking African countries.
orch. by Dmitri Shostakovich
- 2.2.2.2/4.2.3.1/timp.perc/hp/str
- Soprano
- 20 min
- Dmitri Shostakovich
- Golenishchev–Kutuzov
- Russian
Programme Note
First performance: 12 November 1962, Gorky Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano) – Gorky Philharmonic Orchestra – Mstislav Rostropovich (conductor).
Musorgsky was one of Shostakovich’s favourite composers and this cycle for voice and piano was one of his favourite works by the 19th century composer. By the time he made this orchestration, Shostakovich had already made his own versions of two of Musorgsky’s operas, ‘Boris Godunov’ op.58 and ’Khovanshchina’ op.106. He made this arrangement of the cycle for his friend the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, who gave the first performance with her husband Mstislav Rostropovich conducting. Since then, the work has become a standard part of the concert repertory for voice and orchestra.
English translation by Joan Pemberton Smith. Since the demandingly high tessitura of ‘The Field Marshal’ requires notes out of the reach of low male voices, Shostakovich notated the fourth movement one tone lower. Conductor Janos Kulka transposed it even another tone lower for a performance of the cycle.
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Dedicated to Galina Pavlovna Vishnevskaya
1. Lullaby (Lento doloroso)
2. Serenade (Moderato)
3. Trepak (Lento assai tranquillo)
4. The Field Marshal (Vivo – alla guerra)