Editing Modest Mussorgsky (section)

===Early years===
[[File:Modest-Mussorgsky-young.jpg|thumb|upright|Mussorgsky in 1856 as a cadet in the [[Preobrazhensky Regiment]] of the Imperial Guard]]
Mussorgsky was born in [[Kunyinsky District|Karevo]], Toropets Uyezd, [[Pskov Governorate]], Russian Empire, {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[Saint Petersburg]]. His wealthy and land-owning family, the noble family of [[Mussorgsky family|Mussorgsky]], is reputedly descended from the first [[Ruthenia]]n ruler, [[Rurik]], through the sovereign princes of [[Smolensk]]. His mother, Julia Chirikova, was the daughter of a comparatively non-rich nobleman. Modest's paternal grandmother Irina used to be a [[Serfdom in Russia##Slaves and serfs|serf]] that could be sold without land in his grandfather's estate.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smirnova |first1=Esther |title=Русская музыкальная литература: Для VI—VII кл. ДМШ: Учебник|trans-title=Russian Music Literature: For VI-VII grades (12-13-year-old children). {{ill|Children's Music School|ru|Детская музыкальная школа}}: Textbook |date=2001 |publisher={{ill|Muzyka (publisher)|ru|Музыка (издательство)}} |location=Moscow |isbn=978-5-7140-0142-0 |page=56|url=https://dshi13.chel.muzkult.ru/media/2019/09/06/1264086495/3_god_Smirnova_Russkaya_muz._literatura.pdf |language=ru |chapter=Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky : Boris Godunov}}</ref>{{efn|Modest Mussorgsky's father Peter was eventually adopted by his biological father Alexei, Mussorgsky's grandfather, after the official marriage of Alexei and his domestic serf Irina following her emancipation (it was long time before the [[Emancipation reform of 1861]]). Irina was an unordinary woman, the best dancer-singer in the estate. Her strong character had promoted her to a 'manager of all keys' position and status of the estate owner's legitimate wife. Unfortunately, Peter's original illegitimate status (his date of birth is lost, legitimized 9 May 1820, died in 1854<ref>{{cite web |title=Mussorgsky family |url=https://62info.ru/history/node/11928 |website=62info.ru |publisher=History, culture and traditions of Ryazan Krai |access-date=14 November 2020 |language=ru}}</ref>) was considered a disgrace which had prevented him from making a successful military career according to the Mussorgsky family tradition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mussorgsky. Childhood. Family. Places. |url=http://www.mussorgsky.ru/mus001.html |website=mussorgsky.ru |access-date=18 October 2020 |language=ru}}</ref>}} At age six, Mussorgsky began receiving piano lessons from his mother, herself a trained pianist. His progress was sufficiently rapid that three years later, he was able to perform a [[John Field (composer)|John Field]] concerto and works by [[Franz Liszt]] for family and friends. At age 10, Mussorgsky and his brother were taken to Saint Petersburg to study at the elite German language [[Petrischule]] (St. Peter's School). While there, Modest studied the piano with {{ill|Anton Gerke|ru|Герке, Антон Августович}}. In 1852, the 12-year-old Mussorgsky published a piano piece titled "Porte-enseigne Polka" at his father's expense.

Mussorgsky's parents planned the move to Saint Petersburg so that both their sons would renew the family tradition of military service.<ref>Brown (2002: p. 3).</ref> Mussorgsky entered the Cadet School of the Guards at age 13. Controversy had arisen over the educational attitudes at the time of both this institute and its director, General Sutgof.<ref name="brown4" /> All agreed the Cadet School could be a brutal place, especially for new recruits.<ref name="brown5" /> More tellingly for Mussorgsky, it was likely where he began his eventual path to alcoholism.<ref name="brown5">Brown, 5.</ref> According to a former student, singer and composer Nikolai Kompaneisky, Sutgof "was proud when a cadet returned from leave drunk with champagne."<ref>As quoted in Brown, 4</ref>

Music still remained important to Mussorgsky. Sutgof's daughter was also a pupil of Gerke, and Mussorgsky was allowed to attend lessons with her.<ref name="brown4">Brown, 4.{{incomplete short citation|date=October 2023|reason=Which year, 2002 or 2010? Probably 2002, but it ought to be notated as such. This applies to all Brown undated short citations.}}</ref> His skills as a pianist made him much in demand by fellow-cadets; for them he would play dances interspersed with his own [[musical improvisation|improvisation]]s.<ref name="brown6">Brown (2002: p. 6).</ref> In 1856, Mussorgsky – who had developed a strong interest in history and studied German philosophy – graduated from the Cadet School. Following family tradition, he received a commission with the [[Preobrazhensky Regiment]], the foremost regiment of the Russian Imperial Guard.<ref name="brown6" />