This month we
have been looking at popular vocal music in various countries during the 19th
and 20th centuries. This week, let’s go to Russia and look at the
songs of Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881).
Mussorgsky lived
a relatively short and unstable life with few of his works left incomplete at
the time of his death. One of his greatest achievements during his lifetime,
however, was his vocal works including both operas and songs. A member of the
Mighty Five, Mussorgsky was known to write for voice in a way that was lyrical
but also true to Russian speech inflections. The Mighty Five was a group of
Russian composers during the 19th century who aimed to find a true
Russian music. In addition to Mussorgsky, the group included Mily Balakirev,
Alexander Borodin, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and César Cui. Mussorgsky spent
part of his life studying with the group’s leader, Mily Balakirev.
Mussorgsky was
likely familiar with German and French song composers but he tended to draw
inspiration from Russian folk song. He also had a great selection of poetry at
his disposal from prolific Russian poets including Alexander Pushkin and A.K.
Tolstoy. Overall, his songs demand a high level of musicality and emotional
delivery and include irregular rhythms, harmonies, and melodies. Below you will
find an example of one of his songs for which he wrote the music and the text,
“Svetik Savishna.” This piece is based on something Mussorgsky allegedly
witnessed in a small village—a village idiot professing his love to a beautiful
young girl. You can hear his desperation as he pleads with the girl in the
breathless stream of notes that the singer performs without any rests!
Mussorgsky emphasizes the voice over the piano in this example, the
accompaniment containing simple, drone-like chords.
Radiant Savishna,
my bright falcon,
Love me, witless
as I am;
Come, caress this
luckless fellow!
Oh, my falcon, my
bright falcon,
Darling Savishna,
radiant vanovna,
Do not spurn this
poor destitute fellow,
Though
ill-fortune be his lot!
From birth I’ve
caused folk much merriment,
They get fun and
amusement out of me!
They say,
Savishna, I’m feeble-minded,
call
me-listen-‘Holy Vanya,’
Darling Savishna,
radiant vanovna,
They kick holy
Vanya,
They give me food
and then honour me with a clout
on the head.
But festivals
when they dress in their finery,
And deck
themselves in scarlet ribbons,
They give poor
Vanya only a crust of bread,
So as not to
forget holy Vanya.
Darling Savishna,
my bright falcon,
Love me, for all
my ugliness;
Come, caress this
lonely fellow!
I love you more
than I can say,
Darling Savishna,
believe me or not, Radiant Savishna!
