Mussorgsky: The Nursery

Introduction

The Nursery (Russian: Детская, Detskaya, literally Children's [Room]) is a song cycle by Modest Mussorgsky set to his own lyrics, composed between 1868 and 1872.

组成

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 (Russian: «На Даче», Na Dache, At the Dacha) along with 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

An orchestral (no voice) version was arranged by Peter Breiner and recorded in 2012 by him with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on Naxos.