Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 13 in
B-flat minor,
Op. 138, was first conceived in 1969, and completed in 1970 as Shostakovich was undergoing treatment at the
Russian Ilizarov Scientific Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopaedics in
Kurgan.
The work consists of one movement:
Playing time is approximately 19 minutes.
The piece was dedicated to
Vadim Borisovsky
Vadim Vasilyevich Borisovsky (russian: Вадим Васильевич Борисовский; January 20, 1900 – July 2, 1972) was a Soviet and Russian violist.
Biography
Born in Moscow, Borisovsky entered Moscow Conservatory in 1917 studying ...
, violist of the
Beethoven Quartet, and the viola is accordingly given a prominent role in the piece. The quartet opens with a
twelve-tone theme played on the viola, and concludes with a high B♭ held first by the viola, then with the violins in unison until reaching a
sforzando. The work also requires the players to
tap on the bodies of their instruments with their bows at several points.
References
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External links
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#13
1970 compositions
Compositions in B-flat minor
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