Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Fugue

Compose Date

:

1950 - 1951

Average_duration

:

2:24

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's Prelude & Fugue No. 2 in A minor, Op. 87/2 is a work for solo piano, composed in 1950. It is part of a set of 24 preludes and fugues, one in each major and minor key, which Shostakovich composed over the course of several years. The set is often compared to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, which also consists of 24 preludes and fugues. The Prelude & Fugue No. 2 in A minor is one of the most popular pieces in the set, and is often performed as a standalone work. The piece is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood, which is typical of Shostakovich's music. The prelude is marked "Andante", and features a simple, lyrical melody that is accompanied by a flowing, arpeggiated accompaniment. The melody is repeated several times, with slight variations, before the piece comes to a quiet, introspective close. The fugue, marked "Allegro", is a more complex and technically demanding piece. It begins with a subject that is introduced by the right hand, and is then imitated by the left hand. The subject is then developed and elaborated upon, with various counterpoints and episodes. The fugue reaches a climax with a virtuosic passage that features rapid, cascading arpeggios in both hands. The piece then comes to a quiet, introspective close, similar to the prelude. The Prelude & Fugue No. 2 in A minor was premiered by the composer himself, in a recital in Moscow in 1952. The piece has since become a staple of the piano repertoire, and has been recorded by many pianists. It is often praised for its emotional depth and technical brilliance, as well as its ability to convey the composer's unique voice and style.

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