The Nursery

The Nursery (Russian: Детская, Detskaya, literally Children's [Room]) is a song cycle by Modest Mussorgsky set to his own lyrics, composed between 1868 and 1872. The cycle was published in two series. Only the first two songs survive of the second series.

Musorgsky in 1870

Song Data
Series Title Translation Date Dedication Pub. Date Publisher
Детская 1С нянейWith Nanny1868-04-26Aleksandr Dargomyzhsky1872Bessel
Детская 2В углуIn the Corner1870-09-30Viktor Gartman1872Bessel
Детская 3ЖукThe Beetle1870-10-18Vladimir Stasov1872Bessel
Детская 4С куклойWith the Doll1870-12-18Tanyushka and Goga Musorgsky1872Bessel
Детская 5На сон грядущийAt Bedtime1870-12-18Sasha Cui1872Bessel
На Даче 1Поехал на палочкеRide on a Hobby Horse1872-09-141882Bessel
На Даче 2Кот МатросThe Cat 'Sailor'1872-08-151882Bessel
На Даче 3СонDreamProjected–––
На Даче 4[Unknown][Unknown]Projected–––

Synopses

Series 1: The Nursery
1. With Nanny (B-flat major)
A child begs the nurse to tell a story, first about the awful bogey-man who carries naughty children into the forest and devours them, and later about a fairy-tale Tsar and Tsaritsa who live in a rich palace by the sea.
2. In the Corner (F major)
The nurse berates Mishenka for spoiling her knitting and sends him to the corner.
3. The Beetle (F major)
A child relates to the nurse an encounter with a large beetle.
4. With the Doll (A-flat major)
A child sings a lullaby to her doll.
5. At Bedtime (A-flat major)
A child recites his prayers.

Series 2: At the Dacha

The two surviving songs of Series 2 (Russian: «На Даче», Na Dache, At the Dacha) along with a new edition of the five songs of Series 1, were published by V. Bessel and Co. in 1908.

1. Ride on a Hobby Horse (D-flat major)
A child relating his imaginary journey to Yukki on a stick (hobby horse) falls, injures himself, and resumes his journey.
2. The Cat 'Sailor' (A major)
A child foils the attempt by Matros ("Sailor") the cat to catch the family canary.
3. Dream
A child's fantastic dream
4. [Unknown title]
A quarrel between two children

Notes

    An orchestral (no voice) version was arranged by Peter Breiner and recorded in 2012 by him with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on Naxos.

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    References
    • Calvocoressi, M.D., Abraham, G., Mussorgsky, 'Master Musicians' Series, London: J.M.Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1974
    • Calvocoressi, M.D., Modest Mussorgsky: His Life and Works, London: Rockliff, 1956
    • Orlova, A., Mussorgsky Remembered, translated by Zaytsev, V. and Morrison, F., Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991
    • Unknown compiler, notes to Moussorgsky: Integrale des Melodies CD recording by Boris Christoff, EMI Records Ltd, 1989
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