Аннотация: Mussorgsky and Hitchhiking Vietnam. Review of the half part of the book by Karin Muller.
Mussorgsky and Hitchhiking Vietnam. Review of the half part of the book by Karin Muller.
In one of the miniatures I mentioned Mussorgsky.
Apparently, to clarify something, I read a few paragraphs from Wikipedia about Mussorgsky (1839-1881). These few paragraphs surprised me.
Modest Mussorgsky ended his military career to become a composer. This is understandable.
But why did he, having become a composer, enter a period of internal crisis? Wikipedia explains this by Mussorgsky's experiences in connection with the termination of the functioning of the "mighty bunch" (a friendly association of outstanding Russian classical composers of the 19th century). This explanation seemed unconvincing to me.
I decided to find a biography of Modest Mussorgsky.
In the biography, everything is as I expected.
"Rurikovich-Monastyrev-Mussorgsky... From the trunk - a large branch, from it - smaller branches... Nicknames turn into surnames. Ivan Ivanovich is the first of the Mussorgskys, whose name is imprinted in the Novgorod scribal books. He was also called "Jan", behind this variant of the name Ivan - an echo of Polish influence. The confrontation between Poland and Muscovy is a constant pain of Russian life at this time."
So, all that the author of the biography can say about the origin of Mussorgsky (concerning Polish roots) is "an echo of Polish influence". " [unofficial translation]
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is not mentioned at all in the biography even once.
"The names of fiefdoms are also changing. Yan Ivanovich had an estate in Bezhetskaya Pyatina, in the Mikhailovsky churchyard. Lyapunov's son Makar Mussorgsky owned land in Velikiye Luki in 1572. Ivan Makarovich Mussorgsky - under Godunov and during the Time of Troubles-served in Moscow. He defended the hungry, exhausted capital [Moscow] from the Poles and the troops of False Dmitry II. In times of troubles and betrayals, he remained loyal to the throne. He was granted an estate in the Lutsk district "[as award] for the defence of Moscow for eternal times with estates and a patrimony for service and bravery in the Polish and Lithuanian war."". " [unofficial translation]
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, if mentioned in the biography, is referred to as "Lithuania" ...
"For a hundred years Smolensk left the power of the Russian princes, became the land of Lithuania." " [unofficial translation]
The author of the biography is well acquainted with the principles and spirit of Karamzin's "History" ...
I tried to find some other biographical book about Mussorgsky.
In the electronic library, "Hitchhiking Vietnam" by Karin Muller is located next to the corresponding book. (Russian-language book titles).
I downloaded "Hitchhiking Vietnam"...
I started reading.
I liked it at first.
Then, at some point, I thought: Why am I reading all this?
Dear Karin, for some reason, decided to live a significant period of her life in anti-sanitation and in everyday discomfort.
Why would she do that?
The journey of dear Karin took place after the Vietnam War.
I will assume that dear Karin decided to test herself, and that she was called to the path by the vocation, destiny of a travel writer.
But why in the part of the book (from dear Karin) I read, there are no mention of normal European amenities?
And when did amenities appear in Russia (in the USSR)?
On a microscopic scale-until 1917.
Centralized water supply, centralized sewerage, and centralized electricity supply appeared on a large scale after 1917.
Who started urban planning in Soviet Russia? I can't say for sure. But the founder of planning (in general) was Gleb Krzhizhanovsky.
In addition, Gleb Krzhizhanovsky was the initiator of electrification...
Thus, the figure of Gleb Krzhizhanovsky appears, and with him - the Europeanization of Russia (USSR)...
Was Gleb Krzhizhanovsky in Vietnam or was there no Gleb Krzhizhanovsky in Vietnam?...
In the part of the text of dear Karin Muller, which I have already read, there is not the slightest mention of either Gleb Krzhizhanovsky or people similar to him...
There are several references to "Russians"in Karin Muller's book.
For example.
"All five were lieutenants... they were sent to Moscow for six years to train as mechanics and drivers. At first, they assured us that life in Russia is beautiful, but when the bottle of whiskey went on the second round, they started talking differently.
- It's too cold - - they admitted - - and the Russians, they never smile...
I liked the way our new friends thoroughly washed their hands before eating..." " [unofficial translation]
"Russian tourists replaced the relaxed and easy-to-communicate Americans, but they did not fulfill the main task - to spend more money." " [unofficial translation]
"In addition, if it was not possible to find a job in multinational companies, it was always possible to get a good job by teaching English to potential emigrants. This course was very popular at the university, they took only the best and the smartest. Russian [language] was no longer even included in the program due to a complete lack of interest." " [unofficial translation]
I still don't understand what prompted Karin Muller to spend a significant period of her life in discomfort and anti-sanitation.
But my thoughts returned to Mussorgsky.
Composers of the level and scale of Mussorgsky and of the participants of the "mighty bunch" (a friendly association of outstanding Russian classical composers of the 19th century) - did they exist in Russia before Mussorgsky?
Dargomyzhsky? M-yes... Is there no "echo of Polish influence"? How would they not feel the "pain" ("constant pain of Russian life")...
The author of the biography of Mussorgsky suggests that at the beginning of his military career, Mussorgsky faced some unpleasant situation for himself - perhaps the parents of his chosen one considered him an insufficiently solid groom and refused to marry their daughter to him... He is a good pianist, a promising composer... but this was not appreciated...
In general, you can reflect on the lack of traditions of respect for cultured, talented and educated people...
Without cultured, talented and educated people, electrification, effective urban planning, and, in general, a civilized life (in the European sense of the word) are difficult to achieve.
September 25, 2021 01: 44
Translation from Russian into English: September 25, 2021 03:33.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Мусоргский и Мутные воды Меконга. Рецензия на пол книги Карин Мюллер'.