in 1873, a relatively minor professional artist named Viktor Hartmann died suddenly in his 30s. As part of his memorial, an exhibition of his paintings was held, including his winning design proposal for a new "Great Gate of Kiev" which was never actually built.

Most of those paintings have since been lost, and no-one knows what they looked like. And yet you do know: you've heard them.

The memorial exhibition was attended by Viktor's grieving friend, Modest Mussorgsky. Modest walked slowly through the exhibition, which included drawings that Viktor had given to him personally, and went home and sat down at his piano. He composed one of the world's most famous pieces of music.

"Pictures at an Exhibition" is paintings we can't see and a gate that was never built, made known to us by a grieving musician.

complete recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwJMpQiqCm4

full context for the grieving orchid: https://xkcd.com/1259/

#classicalmusic