Review (PDF) Mussorgsky -- Pictures At An Exhibition (Alfred Masterwork Edition)
Based on the autograph manuscript and earliest editions, editor Nancy Bricard addresses the sources and discrepancies between the various publications of Moussorgsky's most important contribution to piano literature---Pictures at an Exhibition. This well-researched edition describes the close relationship between the composer and Russian artist Victor Hartmann, whose paintings and sketches inspired the creation of this collection of musical works. Bricard offers fascinating insight into the composer's compositional process by including music passages in her footnotes that Moussorgsky had discarded from the autograph. Also discussed are matters of tempo, fingering, pedaling and interpretation, as well as background on the historical, cultural and social environment that influenced the composer's music.
Series: Alfred Masterwork Edition
Paperback: 68 pages
Publisher: Alfred Music (October 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0739011944
ISBN-13: 978-0739011942
Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 9 x 12 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #860,291 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #7 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Composers > Mussorgsky #257 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Early Romantic #625 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Opera
Alfred Masterwork Editions are always tough for me to review. For the price, they're excellent, but that's just it: for the price. Compared to urtext editions (in this case, the Henle urtext)...well, there really is no comparison. The Henle has better paper, printing, and, most importantly, fealty to Mussorgsky's directions. The Alfred is chock-full of editorial suggestions you may or may not agree with, and overall it just isn't as fine a volume.If you're a serious pianist, skip this and go with Henle. Of course, any serious pianist already knows this and doesn't mind spending the $20+ for an urtext edition. If you're a casual pianist looking to play a couple of the pieces, the Alfred edition is fine, and for the price, it's a great deal. I bought this for a student who just wanted to learn one piece (Il vecchio castello), and price was definitely a concern. It's actually been a great exercise comparing the Henle edition to this one - seeing where Alfred adds "improvements" and such.I'll close with this: I don't think you'll find a better edition for under $10.
What can be said - this book is perfect for playing this wonderful classic. The layout is very good, the notes are easy to read and the introduction is very interesting. A great piece of music that would do well for any pianist.
I'm really enjoying learning to play these pieces. Some of the editing is a bit odd (weird fingerings and sometimes half of the page is taken up by notes), but the notes at the beginning are good and the edition appears to be good, especially for the price. Too bad Mussorgsky didn't have a bit more formal training (way too many double flats and double sharps in these pieces and I think he could have avoided some of them) and definitely too bad he didn't live longer, but I'm glad he wrote what he did.
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