Revision of the Orchestral and Vocal Works of Modest Musorgsky by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Part I. The Publication History and Legal Aspects of Musorgsky’s Works Edited by Rimsky-Korsakov

The revision of Modest Musorgsky’s orchestral and vocal works by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov has not been the subject of research yet. The present article is the first attempt to explore this aspect of the work of the Russian classical composer. This article is divided into three parts. The first part, focusing on the history of publications and legal aspects of publishing Musorgsky’s works as edited by Rimsky-Korsakov, is published in this issue of the journal. The second and third parts that examine the revision of the orchestral works and song cycles of Musorgsky by Rimsky-Korsakov will appear in subsequent issues. This study was undertaken in connection with preparations for the publication of the Academic Edition of Musorgsky’s Complete Works at the State Institute for Art Studies. The article examines Rimsky-Korsakov’s relationship with brothers Vladimir and Dmitry Stasov, the publisher Vasily Bessel, as well as the publication of Musorgsky’s vocal works and orchestral scores as edited by Rimsky-Korsakov in 1882–1908, indicating their differences from the original versions. Keywords: Modest Musorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Vasily Bessel, Vladimir Stasov, song cycles, The Nursery, Sunless, Songs and Dances of Death, orchestral works, March, Scherzo in B-flat major, Intermezzo, Academic Edition of Musorgsky’s Complete Works