Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Symphony

Style

:

Symphony

Compose Date

:

1935 - 1936

Average_duration

:

62:31

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43, is a symphony composed by Dmitry Shostakovich between 1935 and 1936. The symphony was premiered on December 30, 1961, in Moscow, conducted by Kirill Kondrashin. The work is divided into four movements and has a total duration of approximately 65 minutes. The first movement, marked Allegretto poco moderato, opens with a somber and ominous theme played by the cellos and basses. The theme is then taken up by the violins and gradually builds in intensity, leading to a climax. The movement then transitions to a more lyrical section, featuring a solo oboe and a solo violin. The movement ends with a return to the opening theme, played softly by the cellos and basses. The second movement, marked Moderato con moto, is a scherzo that features a frenzied and dissonant opening theme played by the strings. The theme is then taken up by the woodwinds and brass, creating a chaotic and unsettling atmosphere. The middle section of the movement features a more lyrical theme played by the strings, but this is quickly interrupted by the return of the opening theme. The movement ends with a sudden and abrupt cutoff. The third movement, marked Largo, is a slow and mournful adagio that features a hauntingly beautiful theme played by the strings. The theme is then taken up by the woodwinds and brass, creating a sense of longing and sadness. The movement builds to a powerful climax before fading away into silence. The fourth and final movement, marked Allegro, is a frenzied and chaotic finale that features a driving and relentless rhythm played by the percussion. The movement is characterized by its use of dissonant and jarring harmonies, creating a sense of unease and tension. The movement builds to a powerful climax before ending with a sudden and unexpected cutoff. Overall, Symphony No. 4 is a complex and challenging work that reflects the political and social turmoil of its time. The symphony is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies, unconventional rhythms, and intense emotional expression. Despite its initial rejection by Soviet authorities, the symphony has since become recognized as one of Shostakovich's most important and influential works.

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