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Dmitri Shostakovich

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Nationality: Russian | Soviet
Born: September 25, 1906, St. Petersburg Died: August 9, 1975, Moscow (age 68)
wikipedia | imslp | chostakovitch.org

[2 Pieces] Elegy and Polka for String Quartet, Op. 36a

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)
4:12 I. Elegy. Adagio
2:33 II. Polka. Allegretto
Duration: 6 minutes (approximately)
Composed: 1931 (age 24-25)
4 recordings, 8 videos
autoopen autoplay
4:12
Shostakovich Quartet
I. Elegy. Adagio
2:19
Shostakovich Quartet
II. Polka. Allegretto
4:08
Kopelman Quartet
I. Elegy. Adagio
2:44
Kopelman Quartet
II. Polka. Allegretto
3:45
Eleonora String Quartet
I. Elegy. Adagio
2:28
Eleonora String Quartet
II. Polka. Allegretto
3:51
Rasumowsky Quartet
I. Elegy. Adagio
2:20
Rasumowsky Quartet
II. Polka. Allegretto

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glossary

  • adagio [It]—slow tempo, often implying a lyrical, poignant character
  • allegretto—moderately quick tempo. slower than allegro but faster than andante
  • chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
  • elegy, elégie [F], elegie [G], elegisch, elegiaco, elegaico [I], élégiaque [F], elegia—a plaintive, mournful poem, more specifically a lament for the dead. Usually implies a slow tempo, a minor key and a dark poignancy with potential spikes of tragic agony or, just as well, a gentle, bright flowering into nostalgic love of great tenderness. A musical narrative combining all of these moods is a hauntingly faithful representation of grief
  • opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
  • piece, pièce [F], stück [G], stücke [pl], pezzo [I], pezzi[pl]—a single-movement, self-sufficient musical work. Often used for short, individual works in a set or simply to indicate brevity without a titular suggestion of form or character.Chiefly contrasted with the term "movement", a piece which is an integral part of a larger whole without which it would be incomplete.
  • polka—Lively central-European dance with Bohemian / Czech origins. Typically in 2/4.
  • quartet, quatuor [F], quartett [G], quartetto [I], cuarteto [S]—ensemble or work for four players the most important examples being the string quartet and the piano quartet
  • string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S], vonósnégyes [H]—an ensemble as well as music written for that ensemble comprising 2 violins, viola and cello. This is one of the essential genres / forms / ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical "core" of "classical" music.
    Explore the string quartet.