Perhaps one of the finest examples of the link between art and music is Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’, composed in 1874.
Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839 – 1881) wrote this famous suite of ten piano pieces (plus a recurring and varied Promenade) in response to the death of his friend Viktor Hartmann (1834 – 1873). An artist, designer and architect, Hartmann died suddenly and unexpectedly of a cerebral aneurysm at just 39 years of age. Shocked, dismayed and deeply moved by his friend’s untimely demise, Mussorgsky set about composing a piece in his honor, in fact, the complete title of the work is ‘Pictures at an Exhibition – A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann’.
In Maurice Ravel's subsequent famous orchestral version, the beautiful, melancholy melody was played by the alto saxophone. Accompaniment, prelude and interludes are reminiscent of playing a medieval hurdy-gurdy with its pervading drone bass. Therein lies the continuity of the piece, there above lies the quiet romance with its melancholy character – the unrequited love of the troubadour. This separate edition now gives all saxophonists the opportunity to play the piece with piano accompaniment.