String Quartet No. 1 (Shostakovich)

String Quartet No. 1 (Shostakovich)

Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 1 in C major (Op. 49) was composed in six weeks during the summer of 1938. It carries no dedication.

This string quartet has none of the bravura of the fifth symphony which preceded it. Instead, the composer seemed to have discovered a new kind of distinctly Russian neoclassicism. The tone is chiefly optimistic, although the minor-keyed inner movements provide a contrast. Shostakovich wrote of this quartet "I visualized childhood scenes, somewhat naïve and bright moods associated with spring." [Epstein, Paul. "The String Quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich." Deutsche Grammophon 2894632842 [Emerson String Quartet: "Shostakovich: The String Quartets"] .]

Premiere

The work was premiered in Leningrad on 10 October 1938 by the Glazunov Quartet. It was also premiered in Moscow on 16 Novemenber 1938 by the Beethoven Quartet. This premiere began a lifelong friendship between Shostakovich and the quartet. [Senden, Yves. "String Quartet No. 1 in C." Brilliant Classics 6898 [Rubio Quartet: "Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets"] .]

Form

In the traditional style of a string quartet, the work has four movements:
# Moderato
# Moderato
# Allegro molto
# Allegro

Playing time is approximately 14 minutes.

First Movement

The first movement, in C major, is in sonata-allegro form. The exposition starts with flowing chords under an opening theme, which then moves to a tentative but happy second theme pushed along by continuous short notes. After a brief development section and recapitulation, the movement closes with a content coda (ending). It lasts approximately four minutes.

econd Movement

The happy mood of the first movement is contrasted by the slow second movement, in A minor. It consists of eight variations on a folk tune melody first played on the solo viola. This melody is not actually from a Russian folksong, but a creation by Shostakovich based on folksong tradition. After four melancholy variations, the music moves into a lighter mood for two variations, then back into minor for the last two variations. The movement ends with a pizzicato A minor chord and lasts about five minutes.

Third Movement

The third movement, a scherzo, is set in the remote key of C-sharp minor. It begins with a fast repetition of a single note on the viola in 3/4 time, creating a nervous mood. After a bit of fast melody, it then moves to a trio in F-sharp major which is slightly more relaxed, but still apprehensive and quick. The scherzo is repeated again, and an ironic coda, which references the trio, brings a close to the movement. It lasts approximately two minutes.

Fourth Movement

The last movement, in the home key of C major, brings the springlike mood back full force, in the form of an energetic finale. The opening immediately sets a cheerful mood with trills and light-hearted melodies. There is, however, still a darker side which clashes with the happy mood in the exciting development, which leads to the vibrant recapitulation and coda. The ending bars are an impressive climax, with the viola and cello playing rapid notes in their lowest registers while the violins hammer out C major chords above. It lasts about three minutes.

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • String Quartet No. 8 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 8 in C minor (Op. 110) was written in three days (July 12–14, 1960). It was premiered that year in Leningrad by the Beethoven Quartet. The piece was written shortly after two traumatic events: the composer …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 9 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 9 in E flat major (Op. 117) was composed in 1964 and premiered by the Beethoven Quartet. The Ninth Quartet was dedicated to his third wife, Irina Antonovna Shostakovich, a young editor whom he had married… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 15 (Shostakovich) — The String Quartet No. 15 in E flat minor (opus 144) was Dmitri Shostakovich s last quartet. It was completed on 17 May 1974 and premiered in Leningrad by the Taneyev Quartet on 15 November (one of only two Shostakovich quartets not premiered by… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 3 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 3 in F major (Op. 73) was composed in 1946 after his Symphony No. 9 was censured by Soviet authorities. It was premiered in Moscow by the Beethoven Quartet, to whom it is dedicated, in December 1946. The… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 14 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 14 in F sharp major (Op. 142) was composed in 1972 1973. It was dedicated to Sergei Shirinsky, the cellist of the Beethoven Quartet, the ensemble which premiered most of Shostakovich s quartets.It has… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 13 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 13 in B flat minor (Op. 138) was first conceived in 1969, and completed in 1970 as Shostakovich was undergoing treatment at an orthopedic clinic in Kurgan.The work consists of one movement:# Adagio Doppio… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 5 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major (Op. 92) was composed in autumn 1952. It was premiered in Leningrad in November 1953 by the Beethoven Quartet, to whom it is dedicated. It consists of three movements, performed without a …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 7 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor (Op. 108) was composed in February and March 1960 in memory of his first wife Nina Vassilyevna Varzar, who died in December 1954. It was premiered in Leningrad by the Beethoven Quartet… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 4 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 4 in D major (Op. 83) was composed in 1949. It was premiered in Moscow in 1953 and carries no dedication.It has four movements:# Allegretto # Andantino # Allegretto # AllegrettoPlaying time is… …   Wikipedia

  • String Quartet No. 2 (Shostakovich) — Dmitri Shostakovich s String Quartet No. 2 in A major (Op. 68) was composed in 1944. It was premiered by the Beethoven Quartet and is dedicated to the composer Vissarion Shebalin.The work has four movements: # Overture: Moderato con moto #… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”