Shostakovich, Dmitry Dmitrievich : 24 Preludes and Fugues No.4 e-moll Op.87-4
Work Overview
Genre:pieces
Total Playing Time:7 min 30 sec
Copyright:Under Copyright Protection
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Author : Yamamoto, Akihisa
Last Updated: January 9, 2021
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Author : Yamamoto, Akihisa
The Prelude (Andante, completed October 22, 1950) possesses a solemn and tragic character. Above a pounding bass line based on whole notes, the inner voices create a unique effect through a pulsating succession of two-note figures, while the upper voice sings an emotionally rich melody.
The Fugue (4 voices, Adagio, completed October 27, 1950) is a solemn piece that inherits the character of the Prelude. Within the collection, only this piece and the final movement are double fugues. In the opening, the first subject, a four-measure theme that seems to plead with few words, forms the axis, and the music unfolds quietly. Subsequently, the tempo suddenly increases with Più mosso, and a new subject, based on active eighth notes, is presented, contrasting sharply with the first subject. The music gradually builds in tension, reaching a fortissimo where the first subject is sonorously played in the bass voice, and then in the soprano voice, forming a double fugue with the second subject.