The Nursery

Series 1: The Nursery#

:1. With Nanny (B-flat major) ::A child begs the nurse to tell a story, first about the awful bogey-man who carries naughty children into the forest and devours them, and later about a fairy-tale Tsar and Tsaritsa who live in a rich palace by the sea. :2. In the Corner (F major) ::The nurse berates Mishenka for spoiling her knitting and sends him to the corner. :3. The Beetle (F major) ::A child relates to the nurse an encounter with a large beetle. :4. With the Doll (A-flat major) ::A child sings a lullaby to her doll. :5. At Bedtime (A-flat major) ::A child recites his prayers.

Series 2: At the Dacha#

The two surviving songs of Series 2 (, Na Dache, At the Dacha) along with a new edition of the five songs of Series 1, were published by V. Bessel and Co. in 1908. :1. Ride on a Hobby Horse (D-flat major) ::A child relating his imaginary journey to Yukki on a stick (hobby horse) falls, injures himself, and resumes his journey. :2. The Cat ‘Sailor (A major) ::A child foils the attempt by Matros (“Sailor”) the cat to catch the family canary. :3. Dream ::A child’s fantastic dream :4. Unknown title ::A quarrel between two children

Notes#

• The song cycle was arranged for soprano and orchestra by Edison Denisov in 1976 and premiered in 1979.
• An orchestral (no voice) version was arranged by Peter Breiner and recorded in 2012 by him with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on Naxos.
• A version with orchestral accompaniment was arranged by the Israeli composer Noam Sheriff.

Sources#

• Calvocoressi, M.D., Abraham, G., Mussorgsky, ‘Master Musicians’ Series, London: J.M.Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1974
• Calvocoressi, M.D., Modest Mussorgsky: His Life and Works, London: Rockliff, 1956
• Orlova, A., Mussorgsky Remembered, translated by Zaytsev, V. and Morrison, F., Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991
• Unknown compiler, notes to Moussorgsky: Integrale des Melodies CD recording by Boris Christoff, EMI Records Ltd, 1989