Night on Bald Mountain (arr Williams)

From Wind Repertory Project
Modest Mussorgsky

Modest Mussorgsky (arr. Mark Williams)


General Info

Year: 1867 / 1991
Duration: c. 3:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $55.00   |   Score Only - $10.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Snare Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Bell Tree
  • Bells
  • Finger Cymbals
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This concert band adaptation of Mussorgsky's spectacular orchestral work will make a thrilling addition to any concert performance. It depicts a witches' Sabbath, and was used to great effect in the Walt Disney animated film 'Fantasia.' Trills, staccato phrases, time signature changes and wide variances in dynamics all add to its effectiveness. A striking transcription.

-Program Note from publisher


This spectacular work was written for orchestra by Modest Mussorgsky, one of the "Russian Five," who is also known for his Pictures at an Exhibition. This piece depicts a witches' sabbath, and is usually associated with Halloween. It was used to great effect in the Walt Disney animated film Fantasia.

-Program Note from score


Modeste Mussorgsky wrote Night on Bald Mountain in 1867 in 12 days. His inspiration was a story by the Russian author Nicolai Gogol. He later reworked it as part of a planned opera Mlada, that was never finished. He reworked it again in 1880 and used it as an intermezzo in his opera Sorochinsky Fair. The work ended up in a pile of unfinished manuscripts, and was discovered by Rimsky Korsakov after Mussorgsky’s death. He then wrote an orchestral arrangement based on Mussorgsky’s final version. Mussorgsky gave a brief description of the work: Gathering of the Witches, their gossip and chit chat; The Procession of Satan; Pagan Worship of Satan; Sabbath.

-Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music


Media


State Ratings

  • Florida: III
  • Kansas: II
  • South Carolina: III
  • Virginia: III


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Limestone University (Gaffney, S.C.) Wind Ensemble (Seth Taft, conductor) - 10 November 2022
  • Sequim (Wash.) City Band (Tyler Benedict, conductor) - 29 October 2022
  • Rio Rancho (N.M.) Symphonic Band (John Emory, conductor) - 19 October 2014
  • Carroll Middle School (Southlake, Tex.) Dragon Wind Ensemble - 2013


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

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