The String Quartet No. 8 by Shostakovich extensively uses a short melodic figure, DSCH, which spells out his initials and the first three letters of his surname in German musical notation.
Composition History
The Piano Quintet in G minor Op. 57 was composed at the request of the Beethoven Quartet, who wanted a piece they could all perform together.
Composition History
Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 was conceived in Dresden, Germany, after the composer was deeply affected by the devastation of the city from Allied Forces' raids during World War II.
Composition History
The Two Pieces for String Octet Op. 11, featured on this album, were composed by Shostakovich when he was only eighteen years old, even predating his First Symphony.
Composer Biography
Dmitri Shostakovich, though not a child prodigy, achieved early success as a composer with his First Symphony, which was acclaimed at its premiere in 1926.
Compositional Technique
Shostakovich's Piano Quintet in G minor Op. 57 features an economical scoring, with the piano sometimes confined to bare octaves, making a virtue of its reluctance to blend with strings.
Composition History
The Two Pieces for Quartet on this album were not publicly performed until 1984, despite being composed in 1931.
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Shostakovich: String Quartets
Britten: The Music for String Quartet
Penderecki: Complete Quartets
Rossini: The String Sonatas
Britten: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 3 / 3 Divertimenti / Alla Marcia
