Shostakovich's Eighth Quartet from 1960 is autobiographical in nature, referencing personal struggles and experiences through self-quotations and allusions. Specifically, it quotes from his First and Fifth Symphonies, as well as a Russian revolutionary song about prison hardship. The work is a highly personal reflection on Shostakovich's life under Soviet rule, his joining of the Communist Party, and his inner anguish, loneliness, and thoughts of suicide during a difficult period. It stands as one of the most profound and successful string quartets of the 20th century.

1. 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.

2. Russian Millennium Stamp

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. his signature in music …
used in many places
especially at the start, and to
introduce other quotes

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

13. 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.

14. 2nd Mvt

15. 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.

16. 3rd mvt

17. 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.

18. 4th mvt

19. 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.

20. 5th mvt

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. First and Second Mvts