Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

String Quartet

Compose Date

:

1969 - 1970

Average_duration

:

19:44

Dmitry Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 13 in B flat minor, Op. 138, was composed in 1970 and premiered on December 17 of the same year in Moscow by the Beethoven Quartet. The quartet is comprised of five movements and has a total duration of approximately 20 minutes. The first movement, marked Adagio, opens with a mournful melody played by the cello, which is then taken up by the viola and first violin. The second violin enters with a pizzicato accompaniment, and the movement builds to a climax before subsiding into a quiet, introspective coda. The second movement, marked Allegretto, is a scherzo-like piece with a playful, dance-like character. The movement is characterized by its use of pizzicato and staccato articulations, and features a brief, lyrical trio section. The third movement, marked Allegro molto, is a frenzied, virtuosic scherzo with a driving, syncopated rhythm. The movement is notable for its use of extended techniques, including col legno (playing with the wood of the bow) and glissandi. The fourth movement, marked Adagio, is a somber, introspective piece with a mournful melody played by the first violin. The movement builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet, contemplative coda. The final movement, marked Allegretto, is a lively, dance-like piece with a playful, almost whimsical character. The movement features a number of sudden shifts in tempo and mood, and ends with a brief, energetic coda. Overall, Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 13 is a deeply personal and introspective work, characterized by its use of mournful melodies, virtuosic passages, and sudden shifts in mood and tempo. The quartet is widely regarded as one of Shostakovich's most powerful and affecting works, and is a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century.

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