At My Father's Gate

As one of the “Mighty Five” group of Russian nationalist composers, Modést Musorgsky made his small contribution to the genre of folk-song arrangements by these four choruses for men’s voices. Taken together, they make an effective program set, but they can also be performed individually, each having a distinct mood, tempo, and character. “At My Father’s Gate” is a whimsical folk song best known for its use in the middle movement of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, where it is used as one of the leitmotivs to symbolize the resilience of the Russian nation with its deep folk roots. It was also arranged for mixed voices by Alexander Kastalsky (cat. no. FS 043).