Few operas have had such a remarkable history as Mussorgsky’s masterpiece Boris Godunov. It exists in no less than three complete versions by the composer himself as well as posthumous editions and orchestrations by Rimsky-Korsakov (from which this arrangement is taken) Shostakovich and others.The Coronation Scene is set in the Square of the Moscow Kremlin between the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Cathedral of Archangel Michael the year is 1598. After being crowned as Tsar Boris Godunov acknowledges the people’s acclamations and the bells of the two cathedrals as well as many churches within the vicinity can beheard ringing out across St Petersburg.Available here is the score for Mussorgsky’s Coronation Scene (Boris Godunov) as arranged for Brass Band by Phillip Littlemore.
