The music critic Erik Smith wrote in the liner notes of the Borodin Quartet's 1962 recording that "The Borodin Quartet played this work to the composer at his Moscow home, hoping for his criticisms. But Shostakovich, overwhelmed by this beautiful realisation of his most personal feelings, buried his head in his hands and wept. When they had finished playing, the four musicians quietly packed up their instruments and stole out of the room."
It is hilarious, but I'm also happy Shostakovich and other started using more basic rhythms even at extreme tempos because it's easier to read somehow!!
It's amazing how a composer can scribble some weird symbols on bits of dead tree and then trained technicians using the information locked in the scribbles open a stargate to a parallel universe
Through all the solemn, foreboding, neurotic atmosphere of this piece, I think the most heart-wrenching is the major section at 16:50 . It feels like one last bittersweet reflection on life. Considering the context under which this was written, I'm gonna go cry now.
This entire quartet was actually written as a suicide note, but he ended up not commiting suicide. Movement 2 makes it really obvious, such a freaking weird but amazing quartet.
"Tchaikovsky provides the clue, like his Sixth Symphony, the 'Pathetique', Shostakovich's Eighth Quartet is also a suicide note. Both works were composed by composers suffering suicidal depression. "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'. So Shostakovich wrote on the 19th July 1960 to his friend Isaak Davidovich Glikman. There are many possible reasons for his depression when composing this quartet. He had never recovered from the loss of his first wife Nina Vasilievna Shostakovich née Varzar who had died in November 1954. He also felt that he had betrayed his principles. Under pressure from Khrushchev's officials he had recently applied to join the communist party, which he had previously sworn never to do, and for months he underwent bouts of self-loathing for his perceived cowardice and chronic sense of fear. Finally he was beginning to have problems moving his right hand: a nightmare for any pianist. This disability would spread in the coming years causing him mobility problems in all his limbs. After years of uncertainty it was finally diagnosed in 1969 as a rare form of poliomyelitis. The musicologist and friend of Shostakovich since the early fifties, Lev Nikolyevich Lebedinsky, believes that Shostakovich intended to commit suicide by taking sleeping tablets on his return from Dresden. So the heart-felt anguish of the Eighth Quartet may show Shostakovich's awareness that the memories of early triumphs (the First and Fifth Symphonies) failed to compensate for the loneliness and the malaise of age. Or perhaps the work is haunted by the memory of his first marriage; or perhaps by the loss of self-esteem. Or maybe it resulted from contemplating the senseless destruction of Dresden so reminiscent of that which he had experienced in his now distant, beloved Russia. The musical ambiguity inherent in the quartet just reflects the uncertainty of its conception. Although Shostakovich maintained that he could never hear the Eighth Quartet without breaking into tears, the work is not self-pitying. Rather its genius is that it transcends individual pain to address all human despair. It is this which explains its profundity. The torment that it voices is the tragic, human agony of all those who have experienced grievous loss whether it be due to fascism, war, or personal bereavement. Shostakovich's Eighth String Quartet resonates with this bitter universal experience; it is truly 'music written with the heart's blood'; that is why it is a masterpiece of the twentieth century7." (www.quartets.de/compositions/ssq08.html)
Hollow Cliche Lev Lebedinsky, a friend of shostakovich had this to say about the 8th quartet: “Shostakovich purchased a large number of sleeping pills. He played the quartet to me on the piano and told me with tears in his eyes that it was his last work. I managed to remove the pills from his jacket pocket and gave them to his son Maxim. I pleaded with him not to let his father out of his sight. During the next few days I spent as much time as possible with Shostakovich until I felt the danger of suicide had passed.”
Not gonna lie, it's 2am right now and the transition from 1st to 2nd Movement had me looking over my shoulder in my own apartment, hoping Maleficent or some killer wouldn't step out from my dark bedroom into the living room. Slightly terrifying, but great music! It's good to be alive and br
The major elements of the 4th movement make me cry everytime, I've studied this piece for a year now and it is overwhelming how much thought, how clever and how pretty much every note has a meaning! It has been a pleasure studying this, look into its context and re-listen to it, you'll find yourself listening to a whole new piece once you understand!
Maybe once you study it for 2 or 3 more years, you'll truly understand it. Remember, Shostakovich took 3 whole days to write this. the least we can do is take the time necessary to understand it.
I think its beautiful that this was suppose to be a suicide note and he didnt actually go through with it. He gave us so much more to listen to through out the course of his life. As an artist and someone who struggles with depression this is so inspirational.
This is widely regarded as a myth because Shostakovich never confirmed it, and as someone who has written a couple - you don't write a suicide note in a day and refrain from mentioning your deceased spouse a single time. As incredible, dark, and deep this story is, it just doesn't fit as a suicide note.
16:50 always makes me cry, the one moment of sweetness in the whole piece, it is so moving in contrast with the terrible (but also beautiful) rest of the piece
The anguish, torment and sadness that it transmits are incomparable, Once you know the story behind it you never hear it the same way. Poor Shostakovich, this is by far the most devastating suicide letter of all.
my school's chamber orchestra performed this at a "festival" for judging and when i heard it i was really shocked at what they were playing, and supposedly they even memorized this. everyone was like wow. they got unanimous superior the highest possible grade possible at the "festival" it was awesome watching them play coming from a band/orch student
wait what school did/do you go to? (I'm asking because I was part of a HS chamber orch playing 1st violin for this and pretty much memorized the 2nd movement for District Assessment or "festival" a couple of years ago)
My high school chamber played this at a national competition at the Lincoln Center this past week and by god it just brought up so many emotions I dont know how to express them other than moving and playing for you
Prahalad Gururajan He wrote this on a "vacation" near by the completly burned-down Dresden. I'm right here, at the place he was sitting and composing. It's a nice landscape ... :)
I was too stoned when I listened to this piece. I felt literally every note, harmony, and emotion. It was almost too much for me to handle. Such torment and anguish in this piece and such beautiful melancholy. Shit's intense, yo.
I played this with my quartet when I was 14 (I’m a cellist) and the repeated 4 notes that the viola and cello have, were practiced so much that we ended up having it as our ringtones
There is that part at 6:06 that repeats itself. Normally it is DCAB, but In German notation, it spells out DSCH or dimitri Shostakovich which gives me chills.
It’s used throughout his music. I often interpret it as a statement of “I am an individual and you cannot take that away however hard you try”. A considered, intellectual point that he uses to great musical effect. In this piece it is not a statement - it is a scream.
dmitri shostakovich has impacted my life as a musician so much with his work. Knowing the stories behind his pieces, knowing what his life was like during the time he created his work, fascinates me. His music is so beautiful, yet can be so devastating, and expresses so much emotion. it really brings tears to my eyes, but only because it's absolutely breathtaking. so much respect.
I think one of the most incredible things about shosty is how hard it is to pinpoint the mood of the piece. With most composers you can tell right away what the composer is trying to say. But in Shostakovich's work you can rarely tell what the mood is, and if you speculate, it's even more difficult to figure out if they're sincere.
Reasons why this should be called the Paranoia and Death-Defying String Quartet: 1. *Entirety of Movement II and Movement III* (Do I even have to explain that?) 2. (7:25) That Presto kicks the HELL out of the Violas. 3. Double Sharps and Double Flats. 4. (9:15) Scares the hell out of me -- especially since I'm 2nd Violin (abused E string so much you can hear it oscillate -- you're gonna break your Violin dude). 5. (7:37) Sforzandoandoandoando... 6. He changes the Violas to a Treble Clef once, and Cellos to an Alto Clef once. 7. 8th variation for the violins (just write normally for God's sake). 8. (11:11) Sounds like the footsteps of evil spirits creeping up on Shostakovich. 9. (11:47) Sounds like the USSR caught him at a jump scare walking around a dark alleyway corner. 10. (13:03) Mii Channel "dun dun dun" brought to a whole new level. 11. (9:41) He changes Cellos to Tenor Clef - (10:21) CHANGES CELLOS TO TREBLE CLEF (poor Cellists you're so dead haha) - (gave me chills; it sounded like someone was moaning and crying out for help -- wouldn't blame them lol). 12. (12:40) Jump scare; easily on par with Firebird from Stravinsky. 13. (6:17 - 6:47) Sounds like if you're on a train heading towards a broken track that leads to a fiery pit below. 14. (10:34) Violins sound like a whirlwind. 15. You guessed it! (5:36) *TRANSITION FROM MOVEMENT ONE TO TWO BROUGHT SATAN INTO MY FUCKING HOUSE SEND HELP*
Well, that transition is insane! Dynamics jump from double piano to triple forte while the tempo jumps from half note = 63 i.e Largo to half note = 240 (faster than Bumblebee)
This piece is shockingly surprising. Whenever I listen to this I feel like I'm watching a movie about that horrible and tragedic war. So impressive!What a masterpiece!
The fourth movement (starting at 12:42) is so moving to me. I feel like Shostakovich was trying to give attention to the individual suffering during such hard times. The weak melody of the violin only coming through at certain points sounds like it is trying to remind us that it is there and that it’s suffering is very real. I feel like sometimes we look at victims of wars as a whole rather then acknowledging each and everyone as individuals.
This is one of the most profound works of the 20thC -- indeed, of any century. It is written from a soul in unnatural torment. And yet, it is about all souls, and the possibility of light. This is the particular, wonderful genius, wonderful soul-ennobling beauty, of Dmitri Shostakovich. Thank you for posting this, with the score.
6:32 The measures leading up to the triplets at 6:35 Oh my god... The melody the viola and cello play, I don't know what exactly but something about it is making it hard for me to breathe, like something is gripping my chest, trying to crush my ribcage and not letting go until the triplets start. I am actually holding my breath every time I hear it. I just don't know how Shostakovich managed to convey that feeling into a string quartet. The man continues to amaze me.
The whole piece is just absolutely unbelievable; the amount of emotion, both joyful and painful, expressed throughout the piece is completely unparalleled by all other compositions!
If I could remove the suffering, suicidal ideation, and oppression that gave rise to these compositions, even if it meant we wouldn't have Shostakovich music to listen to, I'd do it in an instant. Music has the power to extract beauty from even the most tumultuous times and emotions, and that's what's so great about it. However, I would never want anyone to suffer just so they could write good music.
@@guitaristssuck8979 Of course. I'm not saying those two are exclusive. There were plenty of happy composers. I'm just not sure we'd have the same exact music, and IF we couldn't, I'm saying which option I'd pick.
It's so hard to find Classical music that's as depressing or sad as some of Black Metal. I usually can't stand happy music, but at the same time I love Classical. Erbarme Dich is my favorite Bach piece for this reason.
I listened to this for the first time yesterday night. I was at a park at 9 by myself and listened to the 1st-3rd movement, I don’t think I’ve ever looked over my shoulder so many times 😂. watching the shadows of the trees sway over the ground, and the light from each lamppost go down a winding walkway leading into the darkness of the night, was an overwhelming sensation of awe and emotion. This truly is a devastatingly beautiful piece. A tragic quartet welcoming death, but not without one last cry, not without one last note of pain.
27,000,000 Soviets died during Operation Barbarossa. He lived through this. This music is about the terrible suffering of the Soviet people. Watch the film Come And See to get an idea of the suffering they endured. This reflects that.
This is probably the most dramatic of the string quartets of Shiostakovitch, in itself and by what he plans to tell. The writing is not complex atall, but terribly efficient. The quotation of previous works, like the trio or the concerto for cello, make this quartet eben much moving. This is indeed a great quartett of the XXth Century.
Mostly about Russia. Shostakovich was super paranoid that he was gonna disappear after a visit from the secret police. Lots of imagery too, like air sirens, loud knocking, and guns.
Hmm... I have a pretty decent headset, and a sound card, so listening to this is unbelievable... But I'm wondering, for those of you who may not have audio enhancers, do you hear the breathing of the musicians? It adds another haunting layer to the song.
"The music critic Erik Smith wrote in the liner notes of the Borodin Quartet's 1962 recording that, 'The Borodin Quartet played this work to the composer at his Moscow home, hoping for his criticisms. But Shostakovich, overwhelmed by this beautiful realisation of his most personal feelings, buried his head in his hands and wept. When they had finished playing, the four musicians quietly packed up their instruments and stole out of the room.'" This was almost his suicide epitaph :/
Need to be in the right mood for Shostakovich. This was great, but holy shit, was it intense. Makes sense, considering the source, but man, do I feel drained after that!
My brain is small and smooth. I know nothing of musical techniques, I don't know what a largo is, or what I am seeing on the paper. This made me cry though, especially with the context of it.
Well, he wrote this quartet in three days, after seeing the firebombed ruins of Dresden. I have trouble believing Haydn or Mozart ever finished a quartet in three days; may have prepared a draft in that time, whatever. Anyway, this piece is a miracle. The main motive it is based on is D, Eb (Es in German), C, and B (H in German) meaning D Sch, Dmitri Shostakovich. In the beginning, one can hear the dead of Dresden calling to him; SHOS-TA-KO-VICH....
this is the piece that made shostakovich my favorite composer of all time. its so visceral, so potent, and yet somehow political and full of meaning at the same time. i’m playing his 3rd quartet now, i highly recommend it. what an incredible musical mind shosty is!!
+Darius Kaperonis There's a lot of speculation about this piece, but it is likely that when Shostakovich wrote this he intended for it to be his suicide note. In my opinion, that fact alone makes this piece so much more interesting
When I played this for some of my friends, they told me they really like the second movement, and I can see why. It's intense, chaotic, and frankly, scary. It's good in its own right, but my favorite is the 5th movement; the somber, emotional finale. Most specifically, the part at 19:58 to 20:50 evokes the agony of a broken man, and that... That is what good music does; it evokes emotion and imagery, and does it so clearly that it blurs the lines of reality and imagination. Thank you, Shostakovich. Thank you.
Ok ive listened to this piece a bunch of times and I just realized this: The bass part at 19:04 to like 19:08 sounds a hell of a lot like a quote from the Soviet anthem... anyone else hear it...? I just find it interesting that he'd shove that in there underneath the other melodies.
Similar but not identical. Probably a coincidence. The musical gesture you are referring to is rather simple and basic, not distinctive enough to be regarded as a quote. Compare it to other quotes in this piece: his 1st symphony, his cello concerto, his 2nd piano trio, a quote from his opera. These quotes are rather extensive and unmistakable
It most likely is a reference with plausible deniability like in comment prior (very simple progression etc). Making direct music quote would most likely seem "anti-soviet", especially in context, and Shostakovich was on a very thin ice as is.
that brief reprieve in the 4th movement (from 14:58 to 17:41) might be ones of the most moving sections of music ive heard in my life tbh. 16:48 in particular feels like a total gutpunch in contrast to the rest of the piece
I have to admit and I know your strangers but I think I am paranoid too. Do you ever feel like everyone can hear your thoughts and knows everything and they talk about you when you leave.
Bon Dieu! C'est juste la représentation d'une brillante et épique pièce de musique. Le dialogue ici est comme si nous parlions de l'interprétation correcte de l'Écriture. Ce que nous avons ici est une performance flamboyante, bien exécutée, bien pensée et émotionnellement sensible.
At around 8:33, I can picture two scenarios happening at once - One is of High ranking Nazi officials at a gala dancing the night away in a splendid ballroom setting, while another scene is the darkened streets of Germany showing the events of Kristallnacht happening at the same time - the sway of each of dancers movement to the music syncing with the paramilitary soldiers/civilian tossing stones, yelling etc. into the glass, shattering it with each sudden string note, setting stores aflame. I know Shostakovich was Russian and this comment was particularly random, but yeah...imagery.
xenochrist15 I think of the KGB coming at night or soviet soldiers arriving to burn down a town during ww2 or rounding up german p.o.w.s to be executed
You can really hear Shostakovitch's struggle from being in the brutal soviet Russia. However, his suffering in such a terrible time made beautiful pieces that will make him remembered for centuries.
That’s such a great idea! Props to you for being able to focus on the rosary with the tumultuous nature of this piece. The Scourging at the Pillar lining up with the second movement… woah, chills.
15:00 is my favorite part of this whole thing. It just feels like that last little ounce of hope he has is trying to come through only to be slowly drowned out by more prevalent depressive voices
Those extended whole notes bring to mind images of watermelons from the garden in the back yard, in particular, the watermelon that was actually a butternut squash longing to be a watermelon.
A portrait of the soul of a tortured genius, one can only imagine what he (and millions of others like him) must have gone through, the horrors of war and torment of the Stalin regime, how terrifying it must have been to see those so close to you executed.I often wonder how his music would sound if he lived in different conditions?
+scottbos68 It is so ironic and tragic that the great composers do not come here to live but to be tortured so that they will create those dark and sarcastic masterpieces we all know and love...take the examples of Shostakovich, Schnittke, Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, Mahler exc...only Beethoven wrote ''happy'' of more correctly ''with hope'' music and only because he was strong enough to hope for peace and happiness...but even in his case most of his music is dark(Pathetique, Appasionata, 5th Symphony)...What is different in him is that he has strength, hope and belief... in his 9th Symphony the happiness comes in the end, firstly there must be torture and anger...those people come here to create, not to live a happy and peaceful life...that's how they become immortal. Light and joyful music can be written by anyone, but dark music can be written only by a tormented genius.
+George S. I largely agree; re Beethoven I would exhibit, as even better evidence of your thesis, his late piano sonatas (op. 101-111), and even more his transcendent late string quartets (op. 127-135). And because I invoked the word transcendent, I must follow with the name J.S. Bach.
+George S. Beethoven voulait transposer l'esprit des Lumières. Il y a probablement beaucoup plus de partitions joyeuses dans le répertoire, pensons à Vivaldi et à tous les classiques peut-être, qui ne travaillent pas le "romantisme".
I keep comming back to this from time to time....today its been a year I think...and just happens the same, I feel just as it was the first time I'm listening to it, and cant stop repeating it
I fell asleep to this last night and got sleep paralysis, not sure if they’re correlated I’m just saying. I feel paranoid, I’d better listen to a happier song tonight
Absolutely phenomenal work by the best (in my opinion) and most inventive composer of the 20th century. (I wish UA-cam could organise the adverts to come in the breaks between movements, though!!). Loved it. Am realising what a challenge this will be to learn and play
Ach, die Werbung, ein fürchterliches Banausentum, hat man das wirklich nötig als Weltkonzern? Es gibt nun wahrlich andere Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten heutzutage.
Favorite moments: 0:05 - fantastic tone setter 5:12 - love the use of the viola here 5:37 - catches you way off guard 6:12 - solo here is great, also like the cello accompaniment 6:34 - first time there’s real “order” in the movement and it’s terrifying 7:15 - really like the buildup to the… 7:24 - modified restating of the beginning on the viola 8:04 - incredible 10:21 - violins sound like wind here 13:31 - devastating fortissimo section 14:09 - especially like the chromatic movement here 16:43 - this is my favorite part of the whole piece I basically like the entire fifth movement as much as most of these but I'll pick some spots 18:58 - introduction of the new motif 19:45 - like the clash here but with the cello upper register 19:59 to 21:01 - this is my second favorite part of the whole piece 21:50 - last attempt at the new motif, ends in tragic failure 22:11 - final restating of the DSCH 22:39 - morendo, literally meaning "dying". A tragic end to a tragic piece
"I hate war. When I hear someone suffering, I suffer myself."
~ Dmitri Shostakovich
He was such a sensitive soul. If I had a time machine, one of the first things I would do would give Shostakovich a hug and tell him it's okay. 😥
@@josephb.4640 Right. You don't see Shostakovich working at meat counter.
that's what it means to have a human soul
@@texwiller4029 that's because he's dead
@@josephb.4640 You know? What you said is really moving. I'm kinda crying right now.
The music critic Erik Smith wrote in the liner notes of the Borodin Quartet's 1962 recording that "The Borodin Quartet played this work to the composer at his Moscow home, hoping for his criticisms. But Shostakovich, overwhelmed by this beautiful realisation of his most personal feelings, buried his head in his hands and wept. When they had finished playing, the four musicians quietly packed up their instruments and stole out of the room."
Amazing. Thank you for sharing!
As a composer, I can testify that nothing compares to the euphoria of having your music performed live
I totally agree with those ranking this quartet as one of the greatest ever written
Rokudammela
his 15th quartet is also one of the greatest. the first movement is soul crushing
It's the greatest of all time in my opinion.
@T R L opinion.
@@SarahYasmineXO also.
@@NathanielByers Mozart's String Quartet in C major K465 was before this far better imo EDIT: DSCH motif is in both quartets btw
The absolute balls of steel to notate a piece at whole note = 120
the fact that the quartet in this recording is playing it at whole note = c.a. 138-144 is crazy too lmao
It is hilarious, but I'm also happy Shostakovich and other started using more basic rhythms even at extreme tempos because it's easier to read somehow!!
The 5th movement of Beethoven's 14th string quartet (Op. 131) does something similar.
I'll never forget when my college string quartet finally mastered this piece. It has such a beautiful but devastating sound.
Madeline Novack and learning why and under which sircumstances this is written makes it even sadder
It is a nice piece but really depressing
6:35 Biggest beat drop of the 20th century
i got an ad right before the drop and have never wanted to throw my phone across the room more than i did right then
@@DmitriShostakovichDSCH RIP 💀
@@DmitriShostakovichDSCH that's straight up disrespectful to you
IKR
After Holst Mars
6:35 always gives me chills, it’s honestly my favorite part of the piece.
thanks
Same here.
I can imagine an army of sneaky villains marching to this
It’s a classic bit
@@Gr84menah, its about death
It's amazing how a composer can scribble some weird symbols on bits of dead tree and then trained technicians using the information locked in the scribbles open a stargate to a parallel universe
we type symbols into an electric rectangle then people read it and make words this is crazy guys
@@JaMeshuggah shut up
@@GUILLOMSeethe harder
@@JaMeshuggah ñ
how are you everywhere
Through all the solemn, foreboding, neurotic atmosphere of this piece, I think the most heart-wrenching is the major section at 16:50 . It feels like one last bittersweet reflection on life. Considering the context under which this was written, I'm gonna go cry now.
Yes
This part of the piece was actually a musical quote from his opera “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk”, which earned Shostakovich Stalin’s fury.
EATEOT moment
At 5:36 - the transition there gives me chills every time I hear it. Shostakovich could do amazing things.
I wanna like this comment but it will be 101, so NO .
even better at 6:34
@@Iumine yes!
Bourj Hammoud from Ara Malikian seems to digest this passage.
i sure as hell could do amazing things
Can someone give him a hug? I think he needs it.
Omg he sure needs one
*i'm actually crying cuz i'm so sad for my boi*
Sure, if you're willing to dig him up
he dead bro
@@SHinierthennyourforehead r/whoosh
@Whitenight OR AM I????
This entire quartet was actually written as a suicide note, but he ended up not commiting suicide. Movement 2 makes it really obvious, such a freaking weird but amazing quartet.
+JameyPlaysTheViolin this isn't weird. His 13th quartet- THAT'S weird
JameyPlaysTheViolin could you tell me more about how it's his suicide note? I'm legitimately very curious but can't find anything online about it.
"Tchaikovsky provides the clue, like his Sixth Symphony, the 'Pathetique', Shostakovich's Eighth Quartet is also a suicide note. Both works were composed by composers suffering suicidal depression.
"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'.
So Shostakovich wrote on the 19th July 1960 to his friend Isaak Davidovich Glikman.
There are many possible reasons for his depression when composing this quartet. He had never recovered from the loss of his first wife Nina Vasilievna Shostakovich née Varzar who had died in November 1954.
He also felt that he had betrayed his principles. Under pressure from Khrushchev's officials he had recently applied to join the communist party, which he had previously sworn never to do, and for months he underwent bouts of self-loathing for his perceived cowardice and chronic sense of fear.
Finally he was beginning to have problems moving his right hand: a nightmare for any pianist. This disability would spread in the coming years causing him mobility problems in all his limbs. After years of uncertainty it was finally diagnosed in 1969 as a rare form of poliomyelitis.
The musicologist and friend of Shostakovich since the early fifties, Lev Nikolyevich Lebedinsky, believes that Shostakovich intended to commit suicide by taking sleeping tablets on his return from Dresden.
So the heart-felt anguish of the Eighth Quartet may show Shostakovich's awareness that the memories of early triumphs (the First and Fifth Symphonies) failed to compensate for the loneliness and the malaise of age. Or perhaps the work is haunted by the memory of his first marriage; or perhaps by the loss of self-esteem. Or maybe it resulted from contemplating the senseless destruction of Dresden so reminiscent of that which he had experienced in his now distant, beloved Russia. The musical ambiguity inherent in the quartet just reflects the uncertainty of its conception.
Although Shostakovich maintained that he could never hear the Eighth Quartet without breaking into tears, the work is not self-pitying. Rather its genius is that it transcends individual pain to address all human despair. It is this which explains its profundity. The torment that it voices is the tragic, human agony of all those who have experienced grievous loss whether it be due to fascism, war, or personal bereavement. Shostakovich's Eighth String Quartet resonates with this bitter universal experience; it is truly 'music written with the heart's blood'; that is why it is a masterpiece of the twentieth century7." (www.quartets.de/compositions/ssq08.html)
Shortly, because he uses the D S C H motif unsparingly. He's literally writing out his name in desperation everywhere in the piece.
Hollow Cliche
Lev Lebedinsky, a friend of shostakovich had this to say about the 8th quartet:
“Shostakovich purchased a large number of sleeping pills. He played the quartet to me on the piano and told me with tears in his eyes that it was his last work. I managed to remove the pills from his jacket pocket and gave them to his son Maxim. I pleaded with him not to let his father out of his sight. During the next few days I spent as much time as possible with Shostakovich until I felt the danger of suicide had passed.”
Not gonna lie, it's 2am right now and the transition from 1st to 2nd Movement had me looking over my shoulder in my own apartment, hoping Maleficent or some killer wouldn't step out from my dark bedroom into the living room. Slightly terrifying, but great music! It's good to be alive and br
They fucking killed him
Oh dude, for that you should try the string quartet no. 15.
Haha, I get it
malifecent killed him before he could finish...
Why did it take me so long to understand why he stopped typing?
The major elements of the 4th movement make me cry everytime, I've studied this piece for a year now and it is overwhelming how much thought, how clever and how pretty much every note has a meaning! It has been a pleasure studying this, look into its context and re-listen to it, you'll find yourself listening to a whole new piece once you understand!
Maybe once you study it for 2 or 3 more years, you'll truly understand it. Remember, Shostakovich took 3 whole days to write this. the least we can do is take the time necessary to understand it.
It's also the mii channel theme
@@joshscores3360 wait what? I didn't hear it in there
@@juliee593 the rhythm
@@joshscores3360 lol the dum dum dum
I think its beautiful that this was suppose to be a suicide note and he didnt actually go through with it. He gave us so much more to listen to through out the course of his life. As an artist and someone who struggles with depression this is so inspirational.
I hope you're having a good day today and if you aren't, know that better days are coming.
This is widely regarded as a myth because Shostakovich never confirmed it, and as someone who has written a couple - you don't write a suicide note in a day and refrain from mentioning your deceased spouse a single time. As incredible, dark, and deep this story is, it just doesn't fit as a suicide note.
Hope you’re doing ok
Ditto LvB !
Lo-fi beats to study and chill to
I think someone also wrote that on liszts tortantz
@@sugmabigahhballs People write it on any strongly dissonant music
THIS SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN FUNNY
I can feel the stress in the 2nd movement 😭 I love the cello - Violinist
The transition from 3rd movement to the 4th scared the crap out of me
One of most Shostakovich's emotional musical works
Fifth movement is sooo expressive and beautiful!
+Αντώνης Τζιβένης Yes it's great, I agree!
16:50 always makes me cry, the one moment of sweetness in the whole piece, it is so moving in contrast with the terrible (but also beautiful) rest of the piece
Isn't it from "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk"?
The anguish, torment and sadness that it transmits are incomparable, Once you know the story behind it you never hear it the same way.
Poor Shostakovich, this is by far the most devastating suicide letter of all.
It should be illegal to put an ad right before the second movement.
cry
made me mad asf
Install a free adblocker extension
you wont believe what JUST happened to me
It should be illegal not to use adblock
This went from 0-100 really quickly.
my school's chamber orchestra performed this at a "festival" for judging and when i heard it i was really shocked at what they were playing, and supposedly they even memorized this. everyone was like wow. they got unanimous superior the highest possible grade possible at the "festival" it was awesome watching them play coming from a band/orch student
wait what school did/do you go to? (I'm asking because I was part of a HS chamber orch playing 1st violin for this and pretty much memorized the 2nd movement for District Assessment or "festival" a couple of years ago)
i go to school in california. i wasnt in the chamber orchestra that played this but i was in the audience listening
CMEA?
My high school chamber played this at a national competition at the Lincoln Center this past week and by god it just brought up so many emotions I dont know how to express them other than moving and playing for you
yea
And he wrote this in only three days too!
Awesome!
Prahalad Gururajan He wrote this on a "vacation" near by the completly burned-down Dresden. I'm right here, at the place he was sitting and composing.
It's a nice landscape ... :)
Donizetti pops up: "What took him so long?"
when you already have the themes and the motivation, it wouldn't take long to compose
@@junehyoungKim-g4l Im a composer and what's even harder (for me) is to find a theme that suits up the style of the composition
UA-cam keeps putting adds in between the movements and it’s crushing my soul
gets me hyped to play wii bowling
... my brain short-circuited multiple times thinking this comment through
@@joshuahuvenaars9021my brain short circuited and no longer functions because idk what this means
I love how you can hear the breathing of the musicians in between phrases.
I was too stoned when I listened to this piece. I felt literally every note, harmony, and emotion. It was almost too much for me to handle. Such torment and anguish in this piece and such beautiful melancholy. Shit's intense, yo.
Me right now dude
Haha
I played this with my quartet when I was 14 (I’m a cellist) and the repeated 4 notes that the viola and cello have, were practiced so much that we ended up having it as our ringtones
How long have u been practicing l
i know i’m kinda late, but you played this at 14??? i’m 14 right now and i applaud you!
I might have to resort to that
There is that part at 6:06 that repeats itself. Normally it is DCAB, but In German notation, it spells out DSCH or dimitri Shostakovich which gives me chills.
damn
actually it's D E-flat C B (D Es C H or D S C H)
The DSCH is used literally at the beginning of the piece and throughout it, it every movement
It’s used throughout his music. I often interpret it as a statement of “I am an individual and you cannot take that away however hard you try”. A considered, intellectual point that he uses to great musical effect. In this piece it is not a statement - it is a scream.
Normally it is DEbCB
dmitri shostakovich has impacted my life as a musician so much with his work. Knowing the stories behind his pieces, knowing what his life was like during the time he created his work, fascinates me. His music is so beautiful, yet can be so devastating, and expresses so much emotion. it really brings tears to my eyes, but only because it's absolutely breathtaking. so much respect.
I think one of the most incredible things about shosty is how hard it is to pinpoint the mood of the piece. With most composers you can tell right away what the composer is trying to say. But in Shostakovich's work you can rarely tell what the mood is, and if you speculate, it's even more difficult to figure out if they're sincere.
Reasons why this should be called the Paranoia and Death-Defying String Quartet:
1. *Entirety of Movement II and Movement III* (Do I even have to explain that?)
2. (7:25) That Presto kicks the HELL out of the Violas.
3. Double Sharps and Double Flats.
4. (9:15) Scares the hell out of me -- especially since I'm 2nd Violin (abused E string so much you can hear it oscillate -- you're gonna break your Violin dude).
5. (7:37) Sforzandoandoandoando...
6. He changes the Violas to a Treble Clef once, and Cellos to an Alto Clef once.
7. 8th variation for the violins (just write normally for God's sake).
8. (11:11) Sounds like the footsteps of evil spirits creeping up on Shostakovich.
9. (11:47) Sounds like the USSR caught him at a jump scare walking around a dark alleyway corner.
10. (13:03) Mii Channel "dun dun dun" brought to a whole new level.
11. (9:41) He changes Cellos to Tenor Clef - (10:21) CHANGES CELLOS TO TREBLE CLEF (poor Cellists you're so dead haha) - (gave me chills; it sounded like someone was moaning and crying out for help -- wouldn't blame them lol).
12. (12:40) Jump scare; easily on par with Firebird from Stravinsky.
13. (6:17 - 6:47) Sounds like if you're on a train heading towards a broken track that leads to a fiery pit below.
14. (10:34) Violins sound like a whirlwind.
15. You guessed it! (5:36) *TRANSITION FROM MOVEMENT ONE TO TWO BROUGHT SATAN INTO MY FUCKING HOUSE SEND HELP*
In the 'cellos, that's tenor clef, not alto. Only an absolute mad lad would give the 'cello an alto clef
Jean Sibelius True
Well, that transition is insane! Dynamics jump from double piano to triple forte while the tempo jumps from half note = 63 i.e Largo to half note = 240 (faster than Bumblebee)
the guy really just chose violence
This piece is shockingly surprising. Whenever I listen to this I feel like I'm watching a movie about that horrible and tragedic war. So impressive!What a masterpiece!
The fourth movement (starting at 12:42) is so moving to me. I feel like Shostakovich was trying to give attention to the individual suffering during such hard times. The weak melody of the violin only coming through at certain points sounds like it is trying to remind us that it is there and that it’s suffering is very real. I feel like sometimes we look at victims of wars as a whole rather then acknowledging each and everyone as individuals.
5:38 when your mom calls you by your full name
i mean this song has the composers name written all over it so youre not wrong
This is one of the most profound works of the 20thC -- indeed, of any century.
It is written from a soul in unnatural torment.
And yet, it is about all souls, and the possibility of light.
This is the particular, wonderful genius, wonderful soul-ennobling beauty, of Dmitri Shostakovich.
Thank you for posting this, with the score.
it's so maddening to me how suffering leads to such brilliant music and art
6:32 The measures leading up to the triplets at 6:35
Oh my god... The melody the viola and cello play, I don't know what exactly but something about it is making it hard for me to breathe, like something is gripping my chest, trying to crush my ribcage and not letting go until the triplets start. I am actually holding my breath every time I hear it. I just don't know how Shostakovich managed to convey that feeling into a string quartet. The man continues to amaze me.
The whole piece is just absolutely unbelievable; the amount of emotion, both joyful and painful, expressed throughout the piece is completely unparalleled by all other compositions!
Wow, this was incredible. I have never heard a classical piece that I have liked this much before.
You know a piece is personal when it starts with a fugato on the composer's name
What’s fugato ??
@@mariaiordanidou8112,
If you've heard of a fugue, it's essentially a mini-fugue. I think Inside the Score has a video on it
Why do you say so?
and when it contains some other parts of music written also by himself
@@jmrabinez9254it's a fugue on DSCH.
If I could remove the suffering, suicidal ideation, and oppression that gave rise to these compositions, even if it meant we wouldn't have Shostakovich music to listen to, I'd do it in an instant. Music has the power to extract beauty from even the most tumultuous times and emotions, and that's what's so great about it. However, I would never want anyone to suffer just so they could write good music.
You can write good music even if you're happy.
@@guitaristssuck8979 Of course. I'm not saying those two are exclusive. There were plenty of happy composers. I'm just not sure we'd have the same exact music, and IF we couldn't, I'm saying which option I'd pick.
@@Jupiter-T one can compose simulating any mood.
@@guitaristssuck8979 ok I'm not disagreeing
This is some of the best black metal I've ever heard \m/
I was thinking this was like the metal of classical music lol
Think the same, on first listening
Progressive metal is the modern classical music, I love both and they have much similarity
It's so hard to find Classical music that's as depressing or sad as some of Black Metal. I usually can't stand happy music, but at the same time I love Classical. Erbarme Dich is my favorite Bach piece for this reason.
Check out Holy Fawn, it’s black shoegaze. Haunting and very heavy emotionally.
I listened to this for the first time yesterday night. I was at a park at 9 by myself and listened to the 1st-3rd movement, I don’t think I’ve ever looked over my shoulder so many times 😂. watching the shadows of the trees sway over the ground, and the light from each lamppost go down a winding walkway leading into the darkness of the night, was an overwhelming sensation of awe and emotion. This truly is a devastatingly beautiful piece. A tragic quartet welcoming death, but not without one last cry, not without one last note of pain.
27,000,000 Soviets died during Operation Barbarossa. He lived through this. This music is about the terrible suffering of the Soviet people. Watch the film Come And See to get an idea of the suffering they endured. This reflects that.
Started listening this on the bus, even the bus was headbanging
Yoo sameee
This is probably the most dramatic of the string quartets of Shiostakovitch, in itself and by what he plans to tell. The writing is not complex atall, but terribly efficient. The quotation of previous works, like the trio or the concerto for cello, make this quartet eben much moving. This is indeed a great quartett of the XXth Century.
Это гениально, до слез прям
Shostakovich's music is also so moving. He really does a great job expressing how he feels
actually the reason why the 2nd movement is so violent is because it was written imaging the violence and horror of WW2
Mostly about Russia. Shostakovich was super paranoid that he was gonna disappear after a visit from the secret police.
Lots of imagery too, like air sirens, loud knocking, and guns.
J.S. Bach: has tempi so slow that 64th notes sound fine
D. Shostakovich: has tempi so fast that quarter notes become the new 16th
Keep in mind that they're from completely different periods. One is baroque the other is modern/contemporary
@@sofiaspiano7892 yeah of course. It's just funny to see how relative our notation system can be
that second movement is so good
I agree!!!
At 18:22 that silence is so big, it's almost menacing
5:31 the transition from largo to over 200 bpm (w. 240) is insane!
Hmm... I have a pretty decent headset, and a sound card, so listening to this is unbelievable... But I'm wondering, for those of you who may not have audio enhancers, do you hear the breathing of the musicians?
It adds another haunting layer to the song.
Kenshiro yeah I can hear it without headphones
awesomeguy684 Ahhh cool. Such a nice piece of atmosphere for the song.
Kenshiro yes, definitely. It adds a lot to the suspense
which is weird since these are violinists, why are they breathing so hard?
@@MathStringInputOutpu They are playing in a quartet, so probably they were doing that just for giving cues to other members.
"The music critic Erik Smith wrote in the liner notes of the Borodin Quartet's 1962 recording that, 'The Borodin Quartet played this work to the composer at his Moscow home, hoping for his criticisms. But Shostakovich, overwhelmed by this beautiful realisation of his most personal feelings, buried his head in his hands and wept. When they had finished playing, the four musicians quietly packed up their instruments and stole out of the room.'"
This was almost his suicide epitaph :/
Need to be in the right mood for Shostakovich. This was great, but holy shit, was it intense. Makes sense, considering the source, but man, do I feel drained after that!
Softie.
My brain is small and smooth. I know nothing of musical techniques, I don't know what a largo is, or what I am seeing on the paper.
This made me cry though, especially with the context of it.
Largo means "played slowly".
8:12 the transition goes super hard! Givin me the chills since I first heard it lol!
One of the finest pieces of music ever composed, and he chose to make the tempo of movement 2 'breve = 120', no quavers needed here guys.
Well, he wrote this quartet in three days, after seeing the firebombed ruins of Dresden. I have trouble believing Haydn or Mozart ever finished a quartet in three days; may have prepared a draft in that time, whatever. Anyway, this piece is a miracle. The main motive it is based on is D, Eb (Es in German), C, and B (H in German) meaning D Sch, Dmitri Shostakovich. In the beginning, one can hear the dead of Dresden calling to him; SHOS-TA-KO-VICH....
Mozart wrote an entire overture the morning before the premiere, he is capable to do everything
Mozart wrote the entire Linz symphony in 4 days, lol
Ohh that's amazing
this is the piece that made shostakovich my favorite composer of all time. its so visceral, so potent, and yet somehow political and full of meaning at the same time. i’m playing his 3rd quartet now, i highly recommend it. what an incredible musical mind shosty is!!
I always try to imagine what the composer must have felt when he wrote what he wrote......this shit is intense af
+Musta Krakish Well, read a little about Shostakovich's life on wiki... I think you'll understand pretty soon how he ended up writing music like this.
To put it succinctly, suicidal.
à
I think the mood is more questioning, the kind of "how could this happen" one does after trying to comprehend a tragedy
+Darius Kaperonis
There's a lot of speculation about this piece, but it is likely that when Shostakovich wrote this he intended for it to be his suicide note. In my opinion, that fact alone makes this piece so much more interesting
When I played this for some of my friends, they told me they really like the second movement, and I can see why. It's intense, chaotic, and frankly, scary. It's good in its own right, but my favorite is the 5th movement; the somber, emotional finale. Most specifically, the part at 19:58 to 20:50 evokes the agony of a broken man, and that... That is what good music does; it evokes emotion and imagery, and does it so clearly that it blurs the lines of reality and imagination. Thank you, Shostakovich. Thank you.
Ok ive listened to this piece a bunch of times and I just realized this:
The bass part at 19:04 to like 19:08 sounds a hell of a lot like a quote from the Soviet anthem... anyone else hear it...? I just find it interesting that he'd shove that in there underneath the other melodies.
Lili Well he was terrified as people he knew had been executed by The Soviets and he was afraid he was next.
Similar but not identical. Probably a coincidence. The musical gesture you are referring to is rather simple and basic, not distinctive enough to be regarded as a quote. Compare it to other quotes in this piece: his 1st symphony, his cello concerto, his 2nd piano trio, a quote from his opera. These quotes are rather extensive and unmistakable
It most likely is a reference with plausible deniability like in comment prior (very simple progression etc). Making direct music quote would most likely seem "anti-soviet", especially in context, and Shostakovich was on a very thin ice as is.
@@garrysmodsketches Shostakovich worked references into his works often. This is probably not an accident, but very much on purpose.
Puts this piece in a funeral, 2nd movement hits, coffin wiggles!
that brief reprieve in the 4th movement (from 14:58 to 17:41) might be ones of the most moving sections of music ive heard in my life tbh. 16:48 in particular feels like a total gutpunch in contrast to the rest of the piece
Paranoia in C# minor
But is it paranoia if people really are out to get you?
yes it is
Sebastian Lawler no
I have to admit and I know your strangers but I think I am paranoid too. Do you ever feel like everyone can hear your thoughts and knows everything and they talk about you when you leave.
@Ian Park Probably referencing the 4th movement, which is paranoid's most musical incarnation
Bon Dieu! C'est juste la représentation d'une brillante et épique pièce de musique.
Le dialogue ici est comme si nous parlions de l'interprétation correcte de l'Écriture. Ce que nous avons ici est une performance flamboyante, bien exécutée, bien pensée et émotionnellement sensible.
One of the major masterpieces of XX century.
At around 8:33, I can picture two scenarios happening at once - One is of High ranking Nazi officials at a gala dancing the night away in a splendid ballroom setting, while another scene is the darkened streets of Germany showing the events of Kristallnacht happening at the same time - the sway of each of dancers movement to the music syncing with the paramilitary soldiers/civilian tossing stones, yelling etc. into the glass, shattering it with each sudden string note, setting stores aflame. I know Shostakovich was Russian and this comment was particularly random, but yeah...imagery.
No matter how legal drugs become, they're not ok.
Alex Cameron It's okay to think aloud. Keep telling yourself whatever you think will help.
Thank you
xenochrist15 I think of the KGB coming at night or soviet soldiers arriving to burn down a town during ww2 or rounding up german p.o.w.s to be executed
This song was about the horrors of communism and the sadness it wroughts
16:35 to 17:43 is the most brutally emotional 68 seconds of my life. It's where my tears stop because I have none left.
Actually this piece makes my stress go away every time, I genuinely love it. God bless Dimitri ❤
Listened to this on my commute into work....and couldn't stop shedding tears.
in the notes it says “in memory of the sacrifices of fascism and war” I decided to write it since there is no translation in the video description
There is though? Right at the bottom
The music flows into eternity...
This music is so vivid, you can imagine the turbulent and brutal times that he was describing.
IV largo is them knocking on the door. It's so intense and scary
You can really hear Shostakovitch's struggle from being in the brutal soviet Russia. However, his suffering in such a terrible time made beautiful pieces that will make him remembered for centuries.
Вы ничего не знаете о России! А по этой причине и Шостакович для вас за семью печатями!
Don't talk rubbish. He was grieving for all the war dead, those who starved and froze to death. Learn history. Watch "Come and See" the war film.
Shame on you for parroting imperialist propaganda.
@@francefradetjardineslacora8114 lol what
Heard a string orchestra version of this the other day. Beautiful.
This is heavier than any death metal song. What a genius ahead of his time, still modern nowadays.
I meditated on the five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary while listening to the five movements of this piece. I found them starkly apt.
That’s such a great idea! Props to you for being able to focus on the rosary with the tumultuous nature of this piece. The Scourging at the Pillar lining up with the second movement… woah, chills.
15:00 is my favorite part of this whole thing.
It just feels like that last little ounce of hope he has is trying to come through only to be slowly drowned out by more prevalent depressive voices
Those extended whole notes bring to mind images of watermelons from the garden in the back yard, in particular, the watermelon that was actually a butternut squash longing to be a watermelon.
?????????
A portrait of the soul of a tortured genius, one can only imagine what he (and millions of others like him) must have gone through, the horrors of war and torment of the Stalin regime, how terrifying it must have been to see those so close to you executed.I often wonder how his music would sound if he lived in different conditions?
+scottbos68 His music would be very different I think, but he also wouldn't be as famous as he is now...
+scottbos68 It is so ironic and tragic that the great composers do not come here to live but to be tortured so that they will create those dark and sarcastic masterpieces we all know and love...take the examples of Shostakovich, Schnittke, Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, Mahler exc...only Beethoven wrote ''happy'' of more correctly ''with hope'' music and only because he was strong enough to hope for peace and happiness...but even in his case most of his music is dark(Pathetique, Appasionata, 5th Symphony)...What is different in him is that he has strength, hope and belief... in his 9th Symphony the happiness comes in the end, firstly there must be torture and anger...those people come here to create, not to live a happy and peaceful life...that's how they become immortal. Light and joyful music can be written by anyone, but dark music can be written only by a tormented genius.
Belle analyse .
+George S. I largely agree; re Beethoven I would exhibit, as even better evidence of your thesis, his late piano sonatas (op. 101-111), and even more his transcendent late string quartets (op. 127-135). And because I invoked the word transcendent, I must follow with the name J.S. Bach.
+George S. Beethoven voulait transposer l'esprit des Lumières. Il y a probablement beaucoup plus de partitions joyeuses dans le répertoire, pensons à Vivaldi et à tous les classiques peut-être, qui ne travaillent pas le "romantisme".
I keep comming back to this from time to time....today its been a year I think...and just happens the same, I feel just as it was the first time I'm listening to it, and cant stop repeating it
The emotions in this piece is overwhelming.
This is such a bop omg
Versus Christus bop meaning a really really good song/piece
I heard this masterpiece for the first time at a concert last year, it made a very powerful emotional impact on me. Deep profound music!
Beautiful playing. Especially striking is the viola.
The music that makes you feel, that transport you, that makes live worth of living.
An ad before the best part is criminal I feel robbed
This sounds like the mind of someone who wants to leave this world without apologizing or sending goodbye to anyone.
This is such an incredibly moving piece of music. Can't stop listening to it!Thanks for uploading!
I fell asleep to this last night and got sleep paralysis, not sure if they’re correlated I’m just saying. I feel paranoid, I’d better listen to a happier song tonight
Absolutely phenomenal work by the best (in my opinion) and most inventive composer of the 20th century. (I wish UA-cam could organise the adverts to come in the breaks between movements, though!!). Loved it. Am realising what a challenge this will be to learn and play
Ach, die Werbung, ein fürchterliches Banausentum, hat man das wirklich nötig als Weltkonzern? Es gibt nun wahrlich andere Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten heutzutage.
The chromatic passage in the third movement brought me to tears, such tension and torture. Absolute depression
The cello solo in movement four is so beautiful
I don't know why I'm so drawn to this quartet, but it's just so INCREDIBLE
Favorite moments:
0:05 - fantastic tone setter
5:12 - love the use of the viola here
5:37 - catches you way off guard
6:12 - solo here is great, also like the cello accompaniment
6:34 - first time there’s real “order” in the movement and it’s terrifying
7:15 - really like the buildup to the… 7:24 - modified restating of the beginning on the viola
8:04 - incredible
10:21 - violins sound like wind here
13:31 - devastating fortissimo section
14:09 - especially like the chromatic movement here
16:43 - this is my favorite part of the whole piece
I basically like the entire fifth movement as much as most of these but I'll pick some spots
18:58 - introduction of the new motif
19:45 - like the clash here but with the cello upper register
19:59 to 21:01 - this is my second favorite part of the whole piece
21:50 - last attempt at the new motif, ends in tragic failure
22:11 - final restating of the DSCH
22:39 - morendo, literally meaning "dying". A tragic end to a tragic piece