Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude & Fugue

Compose Date

:

1950 - 1951

Average_duration

:

8:03

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's Prelude & Fugue No. 4 in E minor, Op. 87/4, was composed in 1950 and premiered on December 23, 1951, in Moscow. The piece is part of a set of 24 preludes and fugues, one in each major and minor key, which Shostakovich composed between 1950 and 1951. The set is often compared to Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, which also consists of 24 preludes and fugues. The Prelude & Fugue No. 4 in E minor begins with a melancholic and introspective prelude, marked Lento. The piece is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. The prelude features a recurring motif in the left hand, which is accompanied by a series of descending chords in the right hand. The piece gradually builds in intensity before resolving in a quiet and contemplative manner. The fugue that follows is marked Allegro molto, and is characterized by its lively and energetic tempo. The fugue subject is introduced in the bass voice and is then imitated by the other voices in turn. The fugue features a number of contrapuntal techniques, including stretto and inversion, which add to the complexity and richness of the piece. The fugue reaches a climax before gradually winding down to a quiet and contemplative conclusion. Overall, the Prelude & Fugue No. 4 in E minor is a masterful example of Shostakovich's skill as a composer. The piece is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease, and by its complex contrapuntal techniques. The prelude and fugue are both introspective and contemplative, reflecting the emotional turmoil that Shostakovich experienced during his life under Soviet rule.

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