The evolution of lyricism in Modest Musorgsky's compositional style as evidenced in songs and dances of death

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Hyun-Jong Lee (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Carla LeFevre

Abstract: Musical characteristics added by Musorgsky in the second version of his Boris Godunov (1872) differed significantly from those of the original version of this opera (1869). These subsequent changes to the second version represent Musorgsky's mature style. Discussion of previous research along with original analyses of songs composed by Musorgsky provide evidence that the musical progression towards lyricism that was first observed in the version of Boris Godunov was reflected later in his song composition. This dissertation compares songs composed in the 1860s, which contain the use of declamatory text setting technique to the more lyrical style in each song in the latter songs that were composed after the revision of Boris Godunov. The paper includes detailed analyses of the most notable song cycle that represents Musorgsky's mature style, Pesni i plyaski smerti (Songs and Dances of Death, 1875-1877).

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2011
Keywords
Boris Godunov, Musorgsky, Russian Songs, Song Cycle
Subjects
Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich, $d 1839-1881. $t Boris Godunov
Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich, $d 1839-1881. $t Pesni i pliaski smerti
Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich, $d 1839-1881. $x Criticism and interpretation
Style, Musical

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