Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude & Fugue

Compose Date

:

1950 - 1951

Average_duration

:

8:18

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's Prelude & Fugue No. 12 in G sharp minor, Op. 87/12, was composed in 1950 and premiered on December 23, 1952, 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. 12 in G sharp minor is divided into two movements, the prelude and the fugue. The prelude is marked Allegro, and it begins with a fast and intense melody played by the right hand. The left hand provides a steady accompaniment with broken chords. The melody is then repeated in a lower register, and the left hand takes over the melody while the right hand provides the accompaniment. The prelude ends with a fast and dramatic coda. The fugue is marked Adagio, and it begins with a slow and melancholic melody played by the right hand. The left hand provides a simple accompaniment with sustained chords. The melody is then repeated in a lower register, and the left hand takes over the melody while the right hand provides the accompaniment. The fugue then proceeds with a series of imitative entries, where the melody is passed between the different voices. The fugue builds to a climax before ending with a quiet and introspective coda. The Prelude & Fugue No. 12 in G sharp minor is characterized by its intense and dramatic melodies, as well as its use of counterpoint and imitative entries in the fugue. The piece also showcases Shostakovich's mastery of harmony and his ability to create complex and intricate textures with just two hands. Overall, the Prelude & Fugue No. 12 in G sharp minor is a powerful and emotional work that demonstrates Shostakovich's skill as a composer.

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