2 Monologues from 'Boris Godunov' (Rachmaninoff, Sergei)


Sheet Music

General Information

Work Title 2 Monologues from 'Boris Godunov'
Alternative. Title
Composer Rachmaninoff, Sergei
Opus/Catalogue NumberOp./Cat. No. TN ii/80
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. ISR 19
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 2 songs:
  1. Boris' monologue ("Thou, father patriarch")
  2. Pimen's monologue ("One last story")
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1891
First Publication. 1947
Librettist Aleksandr Pushkin (1799-1837)
Language Russian
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Romantic
Piece Style Early 20th century
Instrumentation voice, piano

Navigation etc.

  • Both are from the unfinished play (or opera) "Boris Godunov".
  • According to Grove Music, "At Mamontov’s theatre Rachmaninoff also formed a close friendship with Chaliapin (who sang with the company), and during a summer holiday in 1898 they made intensive studies together of the operas of Rimsky-Korsakov and Musorgsky, particularly Boris Godunov." It is unclear whether Rachmaninov composed new material of his own on Pushkin's themes, or whether this is an edition or arrangement of Mussorgsky's music.