Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The last movement of Pictures at an Exhibition features the last two paintings.
The first, "The Hut on Hen's Legs" (also known simply as Baba Yaga), evokes a grotesque style similar to the exhibition's first painting, "The Gnome". This is appropriate, as the painting depicts a strange clock modeled after the hut of the Baba Yaga witch on top of a hen's legs. However, the fact that a clock is being depicted isn't forgotten, as we get clock-like gestures from time to time (0:59-1:05 possibly being one good example).
The Trio is markedly slower and quieter, but both the sinister tone and clock-like gestures (1:40) are still present.
After a reprise of the main material (2:29), we move with barely any preamble into the final painting, "The Great Gate of Kiev" (3:27). The Gate in question, which was sketched but never actually built, was meant to commemorate Tsar Alexander's triumphant return from an assassination attempt.
As such, Mussorgsky went all out for this final painting, giving it an awe-inspiring and unabashedly grand tone, serving as an incredibly strong finale.
The powerful main theme is contrasted twice by drastically different, hymn-like passages (4:39). The second time this happens, a mysterious moment of distant bells (6:35) leads into a final appearance of the Promenade (7:11), thereby tying the entire work together right near the end in a beautiful manner.
When all is said and done, the main theme returns one last time (8:54), this time accompanied by the bells and reaching its fulfillment, and the piece ends in a blaze of triumph.
Pictures from an Exhibition – A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann
VIII. The Hut on Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga), and The Great Gate of Kiev
Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
Soundfont: Super Mario 64
I. The Gnome: youtube.com/watch?v=gQnIRXV0i-Q
II. The Old Castle: youtube.com/watch?v=taG8OSGis1Q
III. Tuileries: youtube.com/watch?v=S9_KPhVfOoQ
IV. Bydlo (Cattle): youtube.com/watch?v=1y23yzNbrP4
V. Ballet of Unhatched Chicks: youtube.com/watch?v=5tfCBbSwSeQ
VI. Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuÿle: youtube.com/watch?v=8z__QRUpei4
VII. Market Place and Catacombs: youtube.com/watch?v=JoPdZ6vyuIc
Majora's Mask version: youtube.com/watch?v=xxtjF7OPMb4
The last movement of Pictures at an Exhibition features the last two paintings.
The first, "The Hut on Hen's Legs" (also known simply as Baba Yaga), evokes a grotesque style similar to the exhibition's first painting, "The Gnome". This is appropriate, as the painting depicts a strange clock modeled after the hut of the Baba Yaga witch on top of a hen's legs. However, the fact that a clock is being depicted isn't forgotten, as we get clock-like gestures from time to time (0:59-1:05 possibly being one good example).
The Trio is markedly slower and quieter, but both the sinister tone and clock-like gestures (1:40) are still present.
After a reprise of the main material (2:29), we move with barely any preamble into the final painting, "The Great Gate of Kiev" (3:27). The Gate in question, which was sketched but never actually built, was meant to commemorate Tsar Alexander's triumphant return from an assassination attempt.
As such, Mussorgsky went all out for this final painting, giving it an awe-inspiring and unabashedly grand tone, serving as an incredibly strong finale.
The powerful main theme is contrasted twice by drastically different, hymn-like passages (4:39). The second time this happens, a mysterious moment of distant bells (6:35) leads into a final appearance of the Promenade (7:11), thereby tying the entire work together right near the end in a beautiful manner.
When all is said and done, the main theme returns one last time (8:54), this time accompanied by the bells and reaching its fulfillment, and the piece ends in a blaze of triumph.
Pictures from an Exhibition – A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann
VIII. The Hut on Hen's Legs (Baba Yaga), and The Great Gate of Kiev
Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
Soundfont: Super Mario 64
I. The Gnome: youtube.com/watch?v=gQnIRXV0i-Q
II. The Old Castle: youtube.com/watch?v=taG8OSGis1Q
III. Tuileries: youtube.com/watch?v=S9_KPhVfOoQ
IV. Bydlo (Cattle): youtube.com/watch?v=1y23yzNbrP4
V. Ballet of Unhatched Chicks: youtube.com/watch?v=5tfCBbSwSeQ
VI. Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuÿle: youtube.com/watch?v=8z__QRUpei4
VII. Market Place and Catacombs: youtube.com/watch?v=JoPdZ6vyuIc
Majora's Mask version: youtube.com/watch?v=xxtjF7OPMb4
