Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude

Compose Date

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1932 - 1933

Average_duration

:

0:56

Dmitry Shostakovich's Prelude for piano in A minor, Op. 34/2, was composed in 1933 and premiered the same year in Moscow. The piece is part of a set of 24 Preludes for piano, which Shostakovich composed between 1932 and 1933. The preludes were inspired by the preludes of Chopin and Rachmaninoff, but Shostakovich's preludes are more dissonant and experimental. The Prelude in A minor is the second prelude in the set and is one of the most famous and frequently performed. The piece is in ternary form, with a melancholic and introspective A section followed by a more agitated and virtuosic B section. The A section is characterized by a descending chromatic melody in the right hand, accompanied by a simple and repetitive left-hand pattern. The B section is more rhythmically complex and features fast arpeggios and virtuosic runs in both hands. The Prelude in A minor is a prime example of Shostakovich's early style, which is characterized by a mixture of tonal and atonal elements, dissonant harmonies, and unconventional rhythms. The piece is also notable for its emotional intensity and expressive power, which are typical of Shostakovich's music. The Prelude in A minor has been described as a "miniature masterpiece" and is considered one of the most important works in the piano repertoire of the 20th century.

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