Modest Mussorgski

Coronation Scene

Boris Godunov is an opera that centers around the Russian people in the early 17th century. Coronation Scene is one of the grandest scenes in the opera. This is when the great square in Moscow is filled with people and the pealing of the great bells of the Kremlin sound with trumpets, gong and full chorus. The grand scale of this work has been captured in this full transcription from the orchestral score of Moussorgsky. There have been several other concert band editions created over the years (Rubank and Carl Fischer) but none contains the lyric middle section which has been included in this version. This is when the title character sings to the people, which has been given to the euphonium/baritone in this arrangement. This work makes a terrific mass band piece because of its scale and style. This is truly an exciting new version.