Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude & Fugue

Compose Date

:

1950 - 1951

Average_duration

:

5:26

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's Prelude & Fugue No. 15 in D flat major, Op. 87/15, was composed in 1951 and premiered on December 23, 1952, in Moscow. It is the fifteenth of a set of 24 preludes and fugues for piano, 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. 15 in D flat major is divided into two movements, a prelude, and a fugue. The prelude is marked Allegretto and is in a ternary form, with a lyrical and expressive A section and a more rhythmic and energetic B section. The prelude is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. The fugue is marked Adagio and is in a four-voice texture. It is based on a subject that is introduced in the bass and then imitated in the other voices. The subject is characterized by its descending chromaticism and its use of the tritone interval, which creates a sense of instability and dissonance. The fugue is structured in a traditional way, with episodes that alternate with statements of the subject. The fugue reaches its climax in a section marked fortissimo, where all four voices play together in a dense and complex texture. The Prelude & Fugue No. 15 in D flat major is a prime example of Shostakovich's style, which is characterized by its use of dissonance, chromaticism, and unconventional harmonies. The piece is also notable for its emotional intensity and its sense of drama, which are typical of Shostakovich's music. The Prelude & Fugue No. 15 in D flat major is considered one of the most challenging pieces in the set, both technically and musically, and is often performed by advanced pianists.

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