Scherzo in B flat major – Modest Mussorsgky (arr. Modest Mussorsgky)

Scherzo in B flat major by Modest Mussorsgky (arr. Modest Mussorsgky)

Mussorsgky completed a short scherzo for piano in 1858 at the age of 19. In 1856 Mussorsgky had taken up a commission to serve at a military hospital in Saint Petersburg. It would be while holding this commission that Mussorsgky would meet fellow composer Alexander Borodin, the start of a long friendship. Within a few months of 1858, Mussorsgky would decide to resign his commission and focus full time on composition and the study of music. It is during this time of renewed focus that Mussorsgky composed this scherzo for piano.

At the suggestion of his composition Mily Balakirev, Mussorgsky arranged the scherzo for orchestra (with the assistance of Balakirev), and it would go on to be the first composition of Mussorsgky to be performed for the public, at a premiere in January of 1860 at the Russian Music Society.

This work is comprised of a single movement. The composition you hear now is the orchestrated version.