{"id":2268830849,"title":"Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition","handle":"mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/anna-harwell-celenza\" title=\"Author Anna Harwell Celenza\"\u003eAnna Harwell Celenza \u003c\/a\u003e\/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/joann-e-kitchel\" title=\"Illustrator JoAnn E. Kitchel\"\u003eJoAnn E. Kitchel\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMussorgsky finds peace in music after his friend passes away.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen his friend Victor suddenly dies, composer Mussorgsky is deeply saddened. But, with the help of his friends, and through his own music, Modest finds a way to keep Victor's spirit alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders of all ages will enjoy the inspirational story behind the composition of \u003cem\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/em\u003e. Bright, colorful illustrations incorporate elements of Russian folk art and traditional symbols. View pages from artist JoAnn Kitchel's notebook for explanations of the symbols and see her pencil-sketch research of the Russian culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisit \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/annas-music-spot\" title=\"Anna's Music Spot\"\u003eAnna's Music Spot\u003c\/a\u003e for links to recordings suggested by author Anna Harwell Celenza.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/collections\/once-upon-a-masterpiece\" title=\"Once Upon a Masterpiece\"\u003eThe Once Upon a Masterpiece series\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/duke-ellingtons-nutcracker-suite\" title=\"Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite\"\u003eDuke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/annas-music-spot\" title=\"Anna's Music Spot\"\u003eAnna's Music Spot\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-spread.jpg?10719852741281302486\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR'S NOTE BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor's Note\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e is a true story. The characters—Modest Mussorgsky, Victor Hartmann, and Vladimir Stasov—really did exist, and the events in this book were inspired by documented evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) was the most strikingly individual Russian composer of the late 19th century. Largely self-taught, he belonged to a group of revolutionary composers nicknamed the ‘Moguchaya Kuchka’ (‘Mighty Handful’) by the art critic Vladimir Stasov (1824-1906). This group strove to create an unmistakably Russian music and, with the piano suite \u003cem\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/em\u003e, Mussorgsky succeeded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1870 Mussorgsky befriended the architect Victor Hartmann (1834-1873). Both Mussorgsky and Stasov were drawn to Hartmann’s use of Russian designs and motifs, but their enthusiasm was not shared by later generations. If it were not for Modest’s music, Hartmann’s work would be completely forgotten. In fact, many of Hartmann’s artworks, including four of the pictures represented in \u003cem\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/em\u003e, no longer exist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon learning of Hartmann’s death, Mussorgsky expressed his despair in a letter to Stasov: “What a terrible blow! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, live on and creatures like Hartmann must die!” The physical and psychological effects Hartmann’s death had on Mussorgsky are likewise described in a letter written by Stasov on June 18, 1873: “Mussorgsky has completely changed. He has begun to drink more and more, his face has swollen and turned dark red, his eyes have gone bad . . . So many efforts have been made to drag him out and join him with us again—nothing helps.” Mussorgsky’s respect for Hartmann’s work was recorded in the obituary he wrote for the Sankt Peterburgskiye Vedemosti. And his guilt over Hartmann’s sudden death was described in an autobiographical essay written in 1880. Letters written by Stasov (nicknamed “Généralissime” due to his bossy personality) and Mussorgsky tell much of thestory presented in this book. History rarely preserves the personal details that bring a story to life, consequently, I relied on my imagination to fill in some of the gaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo sketches exist for \u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e. In general, Mussorgsky composed at the piano and only wrote music down once it was relatively complete. A description of this process was recorded by Mussorgsky in a letter to Stasov written June 12, 1874: “Hartmann is boiling [inside me]. Sounds and ideas are hanging in the air; I am devouring them and stuffing myself—I barely have time to scribble them on paper.” The original autograph copy of \u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e is preserved in the Saltykov-Schedrin Public Library in St. Petersburg, Russia. It bears the dedication recorded in this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Mussorgsky died in 1881, audiences outside Russia were not familiar with \u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e—he was best known for his opera Boris Gudonov. But in the years that followed many composers from around the world illuminated Mussorgsky’s music with the sounds of the orchestra. Although the orchestration created by the French composer Maurice Ravel is the most famous today, the one created by Vladimir Ashkenazy is more faithful to Mussorgsky’s original ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnna Harwell Celenza, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnna Harwell Celenza is a musicologist and the author of several books for adults and children regarding music history and the history of art. Her children’s books include \u003ci\u003eHaydn's Farewell Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGershwin's Rhapsody in Blue\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eVivaldi's Four Seasons\u003c\/i\u003e. Anna lives in Baltimore, Maryland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/anna-harwell-celenza\" title=\"Author Anna Harwell Celenza\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Anna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoAnn E. Kitchel, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoAnn E. Kitchel received her B.A. in art education from Central Michigan University. She has illustrated \u003ci\u003eHaydn's Farewell Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Heroic Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHanukkah Lights\u003c\/i\u003e (Chronicle Books). JoAnn lives in Mt. Vernon, New Hampshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/joann-e-kitchel\" title=\"Illustrator JoAnn E. Kitchel\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout JoAnn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cvr.jpg?10719852741281302486\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-hires.zip?918553998420196513\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/illustrator-notes.pdf?11073769991674851813\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eSee the Illustrator's Notes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-528-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-503-5 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-63289-504-2 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6-9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e9 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 2. Standards 1-4, 6, 8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 6-8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2015-10-25T15:52:00-04:00","created_at":"2015-10-18T20:53:04-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Art\/Music\/Theater","Browse by Subject_Geography","Browse by Subject_History \u0026 Biography","Browse by Subject_Social Studies\/Cultures"],"price":1695,"price_min":1695,"price_max":1695,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":7438886145,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"95286","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1695,"weight":448,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":8,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-58089-528-6","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cover.jpg?v=1586799040"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cover.jpg?v=1586799040","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition book cover","id":2475029725263,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":600,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cover.jpg?v=1586799040"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cover.jpg?v=1586799040","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/anna-harwell-celenza\" title=\"Author Anna Harwell Celenza\"\u003eAnna Harwell Celenza \u003c\/a\u003e\/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/joann-e-kitchel\" title=\"Illustrator JoAnn E. Kitchel\"\u003eJoAnn E. Kitchel\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMussorgsky finds peace in music after his friend passes away.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen his friend Victor suddenly dies, composer Mussorgsky is deeply saddened. But, with the help of his friends, and through his own music, Modest finds a way to keep Victor's spirit alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders of all ages will enjoy the inspirational story behind the composition of \u003cem\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/em\u003e. Bright, colorful illustrations incorporate elements of Russian folk art and traditional symbols. View pages from artist JoAnn Kitchel's notebook for explanations of the symbols and see her pencil-sketch research of the Russian culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisit \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/annas-music-spot\" title=\"Anna's Music Spot\"\u003eAnna's Music Spot\u003c\/a\u003e for links to recordings suggested by author Anna Harwell Celenza.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/collections\/once-upon-a-masterpiece\" title=\"Once Upon a Masterpiece\"\u003eThe Once Upon a Masterpiece series\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/duke-ellingtons-nutcracker-suite\" title=\"Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite\"\u003eDuke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/annas-music-spot\" title=\"Anna's Music Spot\"\u003eAnna's Music Spot\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-spread.jpg?10719852741281302486\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e\u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR'S NOTE BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor's Note\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e is a true story. The characters—Modest Mussorgsky, Victor Hartmann, and Vladimir Stasov—really did exist, and the events in this book were inspired by documented evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) was the most strikingly individual Russian composer of the late 19th century. Largely self-taught, he belonged to a group of revolutionary composers nicknamed the ‘Moguchaya Kuchka’ (‘Mighty Handful’) by the art critic Vladimir Stasov (1824-1906). This group strove to create an unmistakably Russian music and, with the piano suite \u003cem\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/em\u003e, Mussorgsky succeeded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1870 Mussorgsky befriended the architect Victor Hartmann (1834-1873). Both Mussorgsky and Stasov were drawn to Hartmann’s use of Russian designs and motifs, but their enthusiasm was not shared by later generations. If it were not for Modest’s music, Hartmann’s work would be completely forgotten. In fact, many of Hartmann’s artworks, including four of the pictures represented in \u003cem\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/em\u003e, no longer exist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUpon learning of Hartmann’s death, Mussorgsky expressed his despair in a letter to Stasov: “What a terrible blow! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, live on and creatures like Hartmann must die!” The physical and psychological effects Hartmann’s death had on Mussorgsky are likewise described in a letter written by Stasov on June 18, 1873: “Mussorgsky has completely changed. He has begun to drink more and more, his face has swollen and turned dark red, his eyes have gone bad . . . So many efforts have been made to drag him out and join him with us again—nothing helps.” Mussorgsky’s respect for Hartmann’s work was recorded in the obituary he wrote for the Sankt Peterburgskiye Vedemosti. And his guilt over Hartmann’s sudden death was described in an autobiographical essay written in 1880. Letters written by Stasov (nicknamed “Généralissime” due to his bossy personality) and Mussorgsky tell much of thestory presented in this book. History rarely preserves the personal details that bring a story to life, consequently, I relied on my imagination to fill in some of the gaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo sketches exist for \u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e. In general, Mussorgsky composed at the piano and only wrote music down once it was relatively complete. A description of this process was recorded by Mussorgsky in a letter to Stasov written June 12, 1874: “Hartmann is boiling [inside me]. Sounds and ideas are hanging in the air; I am devouring them and stuffing myself—I barely have time to scribble them on paper.” The original autograph copy of \u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e is preserved in the Saltykov-Schedrin Public Library in St. Petersburg, Russia. It bears the dedication recorded in this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Mussorgsky died in 1881, audiences outside Russia were not familiar with \u003ci\u003ePictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e—he was best known for his opera Boris Gudonov. But in the years that followed many composers from around the world illuminated Mussorgsky’s music with the sounds of the orchestra. Although the orchestration created by the French composer Maurice Ravel is the most famous today, the one created by Vladimir Ashkenazy is more faithful to Mussorgsky’s original ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnna Harwell Celenza, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnna Harwell Celenza is a musicologist and the author of several books for adults and children regarding music history and the history of art. Her children’s books include \u003ci\u003eHaydn's Farewell Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGershwin's Rhapsody in Blue\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eVivaldi's Four Seasons\u003c\/i\u003e. Anna lives in Baltimore, Maryland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/anna-harwell-celenza\" title=\"Author Anna Harwell Celenza\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Anna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoAnn E. Kitchel, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoAnn E. Kitchel received her B.A. in art education from Central Michigan University. She has illustrated \u003ci\u003eHaydn's Farewell Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Heroic Symphony\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHanukkah Lights\u003c\/i\u003e (Chronicle Books). JoAnn lives in Mt. Vernon, New Hampshire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/joann-e-kitchel\" title=\"Illustrator JoAnn E. Kitchel\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout JoAnn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cvr.jpg?10719852741281302486\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/mussorgskys-pictures-at-an-exhibition-hires.zip?918553998420196513\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/illustrator-notes.pdf?11073769991674851813\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eSee the Illustrator's Notes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-528-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-503-5 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-63289-504-2 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6-9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e9 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 2. Standards 1-4, 6, 8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 6-8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition

By: Anna Harwell Celenza / Illustrated by: JoAnn E. Kitchel

Mussorgsky finds peace in music after his friend passes away.

When his friend Victor suddenly dies, composer Mussorgsky is deeply saddened. But, with the help of his friends, and through his own music, Modest finds a way to keep Victor's spirit alive.

Readers of all ages will enjoy the inspirational story behind the composition of Pictures at an Exhibition. Bright, colorful illustrations incorporate elements of Russian folk art and traditional symbols. View pages from artist JoAnn Kitchel's notebook for explanations of the symbols and see her pencil-sketch research of the Russian culture.

Visit Anna's Music Spot for links to recordings suggested by author Anna Harwell Celenza.

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Pictures at an Exhibition is a true story. The characters—Modest Mussorgsky, Victor Hartmann, and Vladimir Stasov—really did exist, and the events in this book were inspired by documented evidence.

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) was the most strikingly individual Russian composer of the late 19th century. Largely self-taught, he belonged to a group of revolutionary composers nicknamed the ‘Moguchaya Kuchka’ (‘Mighty Handful’) by the art critic Vladimir Stasov (1824-1906). This group strove to create an unmistakably Russian music and, with the piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition, Mussorgsky succeeded.

In 1870 Mussorgsky befriended the architect Victor Hartmann (1834-1873). Both Mussorgsky and Stasov were drawn to Hartmann’s use of Russian designs and motifs, but their enthusiasm was not shared by later generations. If it were not for Modest’s music, Hartmann’s work would be completely forgotten. In fact, many of Hartmann’s artworks, including four of the pictures represented in Pictures at an Exhibition, no longer exist.

Upon learning of Hartmann’s death, Mussorgsky expressed his despair in a letter to Stasov: “What a terrible blow! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, live on and creatures like Hartmann must die!” The physical and psychological effects Hartmann’s death had on Mussorgsky are likewise described in a letter written by Stasov on June 18, 1873: “Mussorgsky has completely changed. He has begun to drink more and more, his face has swollen and turned dark red, his eyes have gone bad . . . So many efforts have been made to drag him out and join him with us again—nothing helps.” Mussorgsky’s respect for Hartmann’s work was recorded in the obituary he wrote for the Sankt Peterburgskiye Vedemosti. And his guilt over Hartmann’s sudden death was described in an autobiographical essay written in 1880. Letters written by Stasov (nicknamed “Généralissime” due to his bossy personality) and Mussorgsky tell much of thestory presented in this book. History rarely preserves the personal details that bring a story to life, consequently, I relied on my imagination to fill in some of the gaps.

No sketches exist for Pictures at an Exhibition. In general, Mussorgsky composed at the piano and only wrote music down once it was relatively complete. A description of this process was recorded by Mussorgsky in a letter to Stasov written June 12, 1874: “Hartmann is boiling [inside me]. Sounds and ideas are hanging in the air; I am devouring them and stuffing myself—I barely have time to scribble them on paper.” The original autograph copy of Pictures at an Exhibition is preserved in the Saltykov-Schedrin Public Library in St. Petersburg, Russia. It bears the dedication recorded in this book.

When Mussorgsky died in 1881, audiences outside Russia were not familiar with Pictures at an Exhibition—he was best known for his opera Boris Gudonov. But in the years that followed many composers from around the world illuminated Mussorgsky’s music with the sounds of the orchestra. Although the orchestration created by the French composer Maurice Ravel is the most famous today, the one created by Vladimir Ashkenazy is more faithful to Mussorgsky’s original ideas.

Anna Harwell Celenza, author

Anna Harwell Celenza is a musicologist and the author of several books for adults and children regarding music history and the history of art. Her children’s books include Haydn's Farewell Symphony, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Anna lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Read more about Anna.


JoAnn E. Kitchel, illustrator

JoAnn E. Kitchel received her B.A. in art education from Central Michigan University. She has illustrated Haydn's Farewell Symphony, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, The Heroic Symphony, and Hanukkah Lights (Chronicle Books). JoAnn lives in Mt. Vernon, New Hampshire.

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Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-528-6

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-63289-503-5 EPUB
ISBN: 978-1-63289-504-2 PDF

Ages: 6-9
Page count: 32
9 x 9

Correlated to Common Core State Standards:
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 2. Standards 1-4, 6, 8, 10
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 6-8, 10