Sheet Music: Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks

TitleBallet of the Unhatched Chicks
from Pictures at an Exhibition
ComposerModest Mussorgsky (1839–1881)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyF major
RangeB♮3–Bb6
Time signature2/4
Tempo168 BPM
Performance time1:15
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (82 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (614 kB)
Date added2021-09-08
Last updated2021-09-08
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.6 (below average)
Categories
Romantic

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Wednesday 8 September 2021

Tune of the Day: Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks

from “Pictures at an Exhibition”, transcribed for solo flute

Today we present the fifth movement of Modest Mussorgsky's famous suite for piano Pictures at an Exhibition, which has also become known through various orchestrations and arrangements, with Ravel's arrangement being by far the most recorded and performed.

This piece was inspired by a sketch (painted by Viktor Hartmann) of a costume for a picturesque scene in Petipa and Gerber's 1870 ballet Trilby, which portrayed dancers as canary chicks emerging from the shell.

Mussorgsky created a rapid, busy and aptly dissonant piano work, which perfectly embodies all the youthful energy of enthusiastic chicks yearning to be free.

Thanks to Elan for suggesting this piece!

Other Movements from the same Work

1.Promenade Flute solo
2.Il vecchio castello Flute solo
5.Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks Flute solo