Dimitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975)
Shostakovich was a Soviet composer and pianist figuring prominently in 20th century music. A child prodigy pianist and composer, at 13 he entered the Petrograd Conservatory. Although he excelled in school, he suffered for his perceived lack of political zeal, failing his exam in Marxist methodology in 1926. It would be an understatement to say he had a complex and difficult relationship with the Soviet government. Nevertheless, he received many accolades and state awards.
There is a long classical music tradition of writing music in sets of pieces that collectively cover all the major and minor keys of the chromatic scale. These sets typically consist of 24 pieces, one for the major and minor key of each key signature. Well known examples include J.S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier and Frédéric Chopin's 24 Preludes, Op. 28.
Shostokovich was influenced by ballet, the theatre, the circus and film. To me, these Preludes evoke circus scenes. Can you see the trapeze artist and the hippo in a pink tutu?
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No. 2 (1:05)
No. 6 (1:18)
No. 17 (1:24)
No. 24 (?)
Recorded 06-01-2014 (1:27)
Piano: 2003 Steinway & Sons "B"
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