The Great Gate of Kiev

Modest Mussorgsky composed the 'Pictures at an Exhibition' in 1874 as a suite of ten piano pieces. It has also become known through various orchestrations and arrangements produced by other musicians and, with Ravel's arrangement being the most recorded and performed.

The 'Great Gate of Kiev' is the last movement of the suite. The music of this section starts with big, long chords, describing the grandness of the gate. The Promenade theme is heard followed by a solemn secondary theme suggestive of Russian Orthodox chant. The end of the movement is victorious, with bells ringing grandly.