Instruments of the Orchestra - Cut

Y E A R
7
U N I T
9
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P I C T U R E S
A T
A N
E X H I B I T I O N
S P 2
Listening to “Gnomus”
Name
Form
“Gnomus” (another word for a Gnome) is the first picture that Mussorgsky stops to look at
in the art gallery. The "Gnomus" is a small dwarf monster appearing in Russian legend,
according to which it lives underground. It was based on a Hartmann’s design for a
children’s toy which was a decoration of a Christmas tree in the form of a nutcracker. Although
Hartmann’s original picture to “Gnomus” has been lost, two suggestions are given below of
what it may have looked like.
As you Listen to “Gnomus”, answer the following questions :
How did the gnome sound?
Was he cute or ugly?
Friendly or strange?
Harmless or dangerous?
What was he doing?
Did you hear him snap?
W W W . M U S I C A L C O N T E X T S . C O . U K