Shostakovich’s Vocal Cycles.

From Jewish Folk Poetry, op. 79a.

1. Lament for a Dead Infant. Translated by T. Spendiarova.
2. The Loving Mother and Aunt. Translated by A. Globa.
3. Lullaby. Translated by V. Zvyagintseva.
4. Before a Long Separation. Translated by A. Globa.
5. Warning. Translated by N. Ushakov.
6. The Abandoned Father. Translated by S. Mar.
7. Song of Misery. Words by B. Shafir. Translated by B. Semenov.
8. Winter. Translated by B. Semenov.
9. The Good Life. Translated by S. Olender.
10. Song of the Young Girl. Translated by S. Olender.
11. Happiness. Translated by L. Dligach.

Performers:

2 Flauti (II = Piccolo), 2 Oboi (II = Corno inglese), 2 Clarinetti (B, A), Clarinetto basso, 2 Fagotti, Contrafagotto
4 Corni (F)
Timpani, Tamburino, Piatti, Cassa, Tam-tam
Silofono, 2 Arpe
Soprano solo, Contralto solo, Tenore solo
Violini I, Violini II, Viole, Violoncelli, Contrabassi

This publication is based on the edition of the score (D. Shostakovich, Collected Works, in 42 vols., Vol. 31, Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1982), collated with the author’s manuscript of the score kept in RSALA (rec. gr. 2048, inv. 3, f. 9), a copy is kept in Dmitri Shostakovich’s Archive (rec. gr. 2, section 1, f. 134), and the edition of the piano score (D. Shostakovich, New Collected Works, in 150 vols., Vol. 91, DSCH, Moscow, 2010).

There are no metronome designations in the author’s manuscript of the score. They have been added in keeping with the edition of the piano score. The names of the parts of the cycle are also given in keeping with the edition of the piano score. The author made several changes to the translators’ texts—for more on this, see the article to the edition of the piano score (New Collected Works, Vol. 91).

Six Songs on Poems by Marina Tsvetayeva. Op. 143a.

1. My Poetry.
2. Whence Comes This Tenderness?
3. Hamlet’s Dialogue with His Conscience.
4. The Poet and the Tsar.
5. No, Sounded the Drum.
6. To Anna Akhmatova.

Performers:

2 Flauti, 2 Fagotti
2 Corni (F)
Timpani, Tamburo
Silofono, Campane, Celesta
Contralto solo
Violini (10), Viole (4), Violoncelli (3), Contrabassi (2)

This publication is based on the edition of the score (D. Shostakovich, Collected Works, in 42 vols., Vol. 31, Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1982), collated with the author’s manuscript of the score kept in Dmitri Shostakovich’s Archive (rec. gr. 1, s. 1, f. 202) and the piano score version (D. Shostakovich, New Collected Works, in 150 vols., Vol. 92, DSCH, Moscow, 2010).

Seven Adaptations of Finnish Folk Songs. (Suite on Finnish Themes). Sans Op.

1. Introduction.
2. Taivas on sininen. Russian text by M. Iakubov.
3. Kullan ylistys.
4. Tämän kylän tytöt ovat. Russian text by M. Iakubov.
5. Mansikka on punanen marja. Russian text by M. Iakubov.
6. Jos mie saisin. Russian text by M. Iakubov.
7. Minan kultan kaunis on. Translated by N. Borovko-Lange and V. Garlitsky.

Performers:

Flauto, Oboe, Clarinetto (B, A)
Tromba (B)
Triangolo, Tamburino, Tamburo
Piano
Canti: Soprano, Tenore
Violino I, Violino II, Viola, Violoncello, Contrabasso

This publication is based on the first edition (DSCH, Moscow, 2002), collated with the author’s manuscript kept in Dmitri Shostakovich’s Archive (rec. gr. 1, section 1, f. 187). In the edition, the parts of the cycle are numbered in Roman numerals (the present edition follows the author’s manuscript where the numbers are in Arabic). In the edition, the parts of the string instruments are designated in the plural (the present edition follows the author’s manuscript where all the instruments are given in the singular).

The names and words of the songs are published in Finnish and Russian.

Distribution of the voices in the cycle is as follows (comment by the editor of the first edition Manashir Iakubov):

The author’s manuscript does not indicate which particular voice should perform each song. The version offered is based on the distribution of vocal parts at the premiere of the composition in Finland:

2—soprano,
4—first couplet—tenor, second and third couplets—soprano,
5—tenor,
6—soprano and tenor together, fourth couplet—soprano,
7—first couplet—soprano, second couplet—tenor, further in turn, and the last couplet together.