Another Night On a Bare Mountain

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By marandina

Tue, 20 Jul 2021
  • 5674 reads
32 comments
 

Night on a Bare Mountain (aka Night on Bald Mountain) is a series of compositions written by composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839 – 1881). It was only after his death that it was finally performed publically and became known thanks to Rimsky-Korsakov. It achieved world renown through Disney’s movie Fantasia in 1940.

 

Audio version at https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685/another-night-on-a-bare

 

 

 

Ethereal mist drifts across moss-covered gravestones,

midnight, mordant air alive with pitch-fork static,

bolt lightening zig zags, ire of rancorous Gods,

faded names on tombs visible fleetingly, then gone.

 

Standing in a circle, palms and faces turned upwards,

dark robes ripple against a fierce, flagitious wind,

this band of sisters summoning elemental forces,

Pagan magic and witchcraft forged from archaic spells.

 

Bare Mountain fantasia, ornate throne casts shadows,

wrathful witches watch and await their master,

luminescence and moonlight, evil Incarnate called,

a kid borne of Mendes arrives and takes its seat.

 

Around and around, dancing ever faster, frenetic,

unhallowed heads thrown back, they chant and praise,

faithless acolytes reaching fever pitch, death becomes life,

Satan chooses a maiden to beg its mischievous pleasure.

 

This is the enchantress’s tale of the unholy Sabbath,

of Russian peasantry and folk stories from Kiev,

a legend of ancient lore captured in composition,

an eternal cycle unbroken, life becomes death.

 

 

Mussorgsky – Night on a Bald Mountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8

 

Image free to use at WikiCommons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Danse_du_Sabbat_(no_caption).jpg

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Fantasy

Comments

Submitted by onemorething on

Love mordant air and rancorous gods - I imagine they all are. Perfect ending. The witch in me approves. :)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rachel. This is the piece of music I associate with Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring". It really is magnificent and I have wanted to pay tribute to it for a while. Witches are with us all the time (yikes)

Thank you so much for the cherries, ABC Eds. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

My youngest son had Aspergers and was very musical, and I got to know so much more classical music than I had before. He got a weekly children's magazine on different composers and pieces, and I often wondered whether some of the suggestions of what the music was depicting was really that of the composer, and anyway, how many (like me!) enjoyed the music stirring up different emorions, feelings, ideas, stories! I liked exciting, fast music, but also the gentle, soothing. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rhiannon. In this case, this piece appears to be an evolution. Still, it's a good evolution and a wonderful piece of music. Paul

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I did like the music very much, and other exciting Russian music. Rhiannnon

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Mussorgsky wrote the (sheet) music I understand this, but it is not clear who wrote the words? I find it upsetting, is it your own story? Can't be Disney, this is not good. And you need a much higher age-rating too. Cheers Paul!

Nolan &

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Nolan. Yes, the poem is mine. Not sure what you mean by "who wrote the words?" The poem references the music and the words of the poem represent my interpretation of it. Can't really see this as more than a PG rating but I note your concerns. The visual version is through the movie "Fantasia". Thanks again. Paul

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Shadowy images appear to me reading your poem and hearing the great music, especially in that fourth stanza.

I loved this poem as a whole, but those lines:-

Ethereal mist drifts across moss-covered gravestones,

midnight mordant air alive with pitch-fork static,

bolt lightening zig zags, ire of rancorous Gods,

visible fleeting, then gone.

 

A poem I wish I'd written, right up my witchy street,  and very stirring to my senses.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jenny. I remember you saying that you are a hedge witch. In which case I am glad you liked it. Thanks again. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Ewan on

because of ELP. Who says rock music is for philistines?
Good poem and anything with 'flagitious' in it is alright with me.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, Ewan. "Flagitious" is no "nimmers" but it will do. Thanks again. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Ewan on

Vivid imagery which sits well with the music which inspired it. For that reason it is our FB and Twitter Pick of the Day. Please do share and/or retweet it too, dear readers.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh thank you so much, Ewan! Paul

 

Submitted by sean mcnulty on

More classical music writing, Paul, I mean bring us more.
This is another piece I love.
Requests? Try The Moldau by Smetana, a big romantic sea/river epic. One of my favourites. That is if you do requests. :-)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah cheers Sean. I'll see what I can do. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I love the idea of you taking requests - you could be our resident classical music poet! Congratulations on the golden cherries

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thank you. At last I have found a suitable role in life :)

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Paul

 

What a great poem. Your use of imagery is excellent. The reader is transported to a very frighening experience.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, Jean. Glad you liked it. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Poem of the Week - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh thank you very much. That's wonderful. Thanks again. Paul

 

Submitted by David Kirtley on

Another poem about another great piece of classical music, (and Russian again!)! Thanks for reminding me about what it was all about. I think you have done a good job of describing it!

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, David. Yes, there is a bit of a Russian theme developing. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This is so energetic! Have listened to the (I am guessing) Rimsky Korsakov variation on Spottify, and you have captured the intensity and eeky vibe really well. But it's wonderfully vivid too, all your words seem clear because dissonant (am not sure this is the right adjective) starkly exciting. But much more dark/scary than the sort of comedy spooky films the music tends to go with

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Di. It's a magical piece of music in a dark way. I find myself hankering to watch "Fantasia" again. Paul

 

Submitted by celticman on

who is Mendes? congratualtion on poem of he week. well deserved. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Cheers CM. Goat of Mendes is a form the Devil takes. In the original tone poem, the Devil appears as a kid goat. Paul

 

Submitted by bhi on

What a wonderful use of flagitious, M. Well deserved accolades.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, bhi. Paul

 

Submitted by Nolan on

These English are crazy.

 

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