Music Assignment: Analysis of Night on Bald Mountain, University of X

This report provides an analysis of Modest Mussorgsky's 'Night on Bald Mountain', a piece from the Romantic period. The author highlights the unique harmonization and the piece's dark, grim feel, as well as the subtle tempo changes. The piece's first performance occurred after Mussorgsky's death, and the author first encountered it through the film 'The Cameraman' and later through Disney's 'Fantasia'. The author expresses a personal connection to the piece, enjoying the different instrumental parts, particularly the flute and clarinet solos, and reflecting on the mystery of their emotional response to the music. The report also includes a reference to a book about Baroque music.

Running head: MUSIC
Music
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Notes:

1MUSIC
The piece of music that I would like to discuss about in this short write up is the Night
on Bald Mountain. The piece of music was created by Petrovich Mussorgsky in the romantic
period. I feel that the composition is unique as a result of the innovative harmonization that
has been arranged in the piece. The song has a dark and grim feel and has numerous
transitions. I am highly intrigued by the subtle yet string changes in the tempo of the piece.
The piece was first performed in 1881 after the death of Mussorgsky.
I first encountered the piece in the motion picture; The Cameraman, after which I
have been hearing numerous references of the song here and there and the most notable was
the use of the piece in Disney Fantasia. I have had a tingle in the middle of my chest
whenever I hear the tunes of the piece. I really enjoy the different parts of the song and the
use of different instruments. The flute and clarinet solos according to be carry the whole
piece and particularly stands out in the song that has basically been arranged in a minor scale.
Hence, I can say that there are many reasons due to which the glanderous piece can be
liked by people, however, I am not sure what is the reason behind the amount of amusement
that I experience when I listen to this song. I would rather like to keep to a mystery to even
myself and ponder upon the same throughout my life.

2MUSIC
REFERENCE
Heller, Wendy. Music In The Baroque.