Melanie Unseld writes: In his songs, Modest Mussorgsky strove to depict the most disparate conversational situations--from introverted soliloquies and murmured dialogues to animated tales and public proclamations. His music comments on and interprets the texts, now drawing attention to itself with overt tone-painting, now receding into the background. But the realist Mussorgsky wanted his songs not only to speak directly to his audience but also to give voice to people not typically represented in art song. The confused and insane, the ophaned and the old: this is the wretched population of Mussorgsky's Lieder...[regarding the bleak cycle "Sunless" of 1874] Mussorgsky set Golenishchev-Kutuzov's lyrical texts with great austerity, but his contant use of awkward intervals, interrupted melodies, and fraying musical fabric cloak the sharp distinctions between the emotional states in each of the songs.

A cramped, quiet dear room,
Impenetrable darkness, silent shade,
Deep thoughts, a cheerless song,
A cherished hope hidden in a beating heart,

One moment after another flying past swiftly,
A motionless gaze staring at a far-away happiness,
Many doubts, much patience.
This, then, is my night, my lonely night.