Eighth Quartet 1960

l  When I wrote the Eighth Quartet, it was also assigned to the department of ‘exposing fascism’. You have to be blind to do that, because everything in the quartet is as clear as a primer. I quote ‘Lady Macbeth’, the First and Fifth Symphonies. What does fascism have to do with these? The Eighth is an autobiographical quartet, it quotes a song known to all Russians: ‘Exhausted by the hardships of prison’.

l  From Testimony by Solomon Volkov.

Russian Millennium Stamp

Essay Question

l  In the New York Times Richard Taruskin worte:

l  ‘In 1960, by which time his international fame offered him a shield, Shostakovich gave in to pressure and joined the Communist Party. The autobiographical Eight Quartet, which places his musical monogram in conjunction with a famous prison song, was an act of atonement for this display of weakness.’

Show how Shostakovich’s personal history and experiences are revealed in this and other quartets.

Context l Written in 3 days (12th -14th July 1960) in

Dresden while writing music for a film (Five Days –Five Nights) – in the spa resort of Gohrish near Dresden in the then DDR.

l Film about destruction of city in firebomb raids by the British on 13th/14th Feb 1945.

l  In USSR it was the ‘Dresden Quartet’ and about that war event and the total destruction of old city (and about 50,000 lives).

Supporting this view

l All mvts sad – all shades of black? l Beginning of 4th mvt 3 notes repeated again

and again over a drone = anti-aircraft guns against the whine of bombers in the sky above?

l Anguish of Shostakovich visiting the ruins? l His thoughts on the evils of fascism?

But was it? l 1979 Volkov’s book suggested a different

interpretation. l The piece is full of self quotation – more

than any other of his pieces. And quotes of other pieces both by him and other composers.

l These quotes are personal – the quotes of the first and fifth symphonies cannot connect with fascism as these symphonies were before Hilter’s war – especially the first.

his signature in music … used in many places

especially at the start, and to introduce other quotes

Like 10th Symphony

l Based on the interval of third. l Minor third – but expanding to major and

then contracting. l Also like 10th symphony he uses his own

motto – but here repeatedly and to introduce other quotations.

l First mvts also links himself with his first symphony – his great triumph.

The First Mvt l  The first movement begins with the cello. Then

successively the viola, second and first violins enter to give a canonic treatment to a four note motif. Over the next few bars all twelve semitones of the octave are played creating tonal ambiguity and a corresponding feeling of uncertainty. Although C minor, the home key, is finally established, it is only after shifts to E major and minor have occurred. A quote is then heard from the opening of the First Symphony followed by tonal excursions from C minor into C major and fleetingly into A minor. Finally, before the movement ends, the development theme from the Fifth Symphony is quoted.

Events around 1960

l Shostakovich had at last joined the Communist Party.

l But under pressure. l Had for some years moved around abroad

and seen the world and knew the experiences of people in the West and in Russia

Suicide Note? l Links with Beethoven’s ‘Pathetique’,

Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony – written by composers considering suicide.

l  “I reflected that if I die someday then it’s hardly likely anyone will write a work dedicated to my memory. So I decided to write one myself. You could even write on the cover: ‘Dedicated to the memory of the composer of this quartet’.” Letter of Isaak Glikman, 19th July 1960.

Second Mvt

l Fast and starts in G sharp minor. l Around 17 quotes Jewish music from last

movement of Second Piano Trio – but introduced with his own motto.

2nd Mvt

Third Movement

l G minor l Here his motto is used to introduce a theme

from First Cello Concerto. l Bridge between movements on solo first

violin.

3rd mvt

Fourth Movement

l Strange start. l Done and three rapid notes. l Quotation from revolutionary song –

‘Exhausted by the hardships of prison’ – a favorite of Lenin and sung at his funeral.

l Quotation from Lady MacBeth – from final scenes where she is being shipped off to Siberia. – but unusually not introduced by his motto.

4th mvt

Fifth Movement l  The final, fifth movement contains no quotation other than

the smallest hint of the First Symphony. A fugue is introduced emphasising something which is apparent throughout the whole work: the frictionless flow between the contrapuntal and harmonic sections. Noticeable here, as the work builds up to its final emotional climax, as it is throughout the whole work, is the ubiquitous motif composed of four notes, D, E-flat, C and B. These notes allow Shostakovich four different tonal systems, an ambiguity that is only enhanced when they are employed in counterpoint. Yet despite these potentially disruptive chromatics, the underlying tonality is never lost and the work terminates on a C minor chord.

5th mvt

What is the message l  For the ‘new Shostakovich’ believer - he is a closet

dissident – imprisoned by Socialist Realism. l  The anguish is against the horrors of Stalin’s soviet

communism not the victims of fascism. l  His own illnesses – Poloimyelits – he could not easily

move his right hand. Mobility problems were spreading throughout his body. Also the loneliness and regret he felt of the loss of his first wife – Nina.

l  Mortification at his own cowardice in joining the Party. l  He intended to commit suicide on his return but did not do

so – according to Lebedinsky because he (Lebedinsky) stole the pills.

Success l  It is by far the most played of his quartets. l  It is playable by good amateurs. l But is profound music. l Full of themes, ideas and unusual textures. l Linked directly with the man, his life and

times. l Perhaps the most successful of all 20th

century string quartets.

First and Second Mvts