Modest Mussorgski

Promenade and Great Gate from Pictures at an Exhibition

In 1874, the "Promenade and Great Gate of Kiev" was composed by Modest Mussorgsky as part of a 10 section piano work entitled, "Pictures at an Exhibition". In 1922, French composer Maurice Ravel made an orchestra version which has become standard in every professional orchestra's repertoire. Arranger Bobrowitz has made a very playable string orchestra version of two sections of this masterwork. His Promenade version is written in 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4 thereby reducing the difficulty of Mussorgsky's complex piano version. There are several Promenades in the piece, and Bobrowitz has chosen the opening one. In order to set up the Great Gate section which is in F, the Promenade appropriately ends on a C chord.

The Great Gate of Kiev is an abridged version that captures all the power of the full original. This is a version which will thrill your audiences time and time again!