Modest Mussorgski

The Old Castle

With his piano cycle Pictures at an Exhibition from 1874, Mussorgsky created a classic example of programme music. Based on the paintings of his deceased friend Viktor Hartmann, he also composed the lyrical serenade 'Il vecchio castello' (The Old Castle), among others. Hartmann's picture shows a medieval Italian castle with a singing troubadour who accompanies himself on the lute. 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, thereabove 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.