Dmitri Shostakovich’s Music for Chamber Ensembles.

To the Memory of V.I. Kurchavov

Two Pieces

For String Octet. Op. 11. 1924-1925

This edition is based on the publication of the score of Two Pieces in Volume 37 of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Collected Works, Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1983 (S-83). The following are taken into account: author’s manuscript of the score in the first version (A1), author’s manuscript of the score in the second, final version (A2), as well as the last publication of the score of Two Pieces during the composer’s lifetime, Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1967 (S-67).

In several episodes, A1 differs significantly from both A2 (which is relatively close to the printed editions), and from S-67 and S-83. These differences include different rehearsal numbers, fundamentally different dynamic and articulation marks or their complete absence, different arrangement of the music according to parts, and so on. In this respect, the differences between A1 and this edition are only stipulated in the comments when A1, A2, S-67 and S-83 are compared in controversial episodes, while the designations in A1 that are not included in A2, S-67, or S-83 are only mentioned in the comments when such designations are used in this edition. In turn, all the notation peculiarities of A2 are specified in the comments.

In S-83, some of the editorial signs are given in square brackets. In this edition, the square brackets are removed when using these signs in the score, and their absence is not specified in the comments. Obvious slips of the pen in S-67 and S-83 are corrected without qualification.

 The score of Two Pieces in this version is published in a separate edition, DSCH, Moscow, 2015 (S-2015). Small changes that appeared in this edition during editing and were made after S-2015 came out are specified in these comments.

Quintet

For Two Violins, Viola, Cello and Piano

Op. 57. 1940

This edition is based on the publication of the score of the Quintet in Vol. 37 of Dmitri Shostakovich’s
Collected Works—Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1983 (S-83). The following are taken into account: author’s manuscript of the score of the Quintet, as well as the last publication of the score of the work during the composer’s lifetime, which is the basis for S-83— Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1968 (S-68).

In S-83, some designations are given in square brackets—these are editing additions and designations that feature in manuscript but are missing in S-68. In this edition, the square brackets have been removed when using all the above-listed designations in the text of the score, and their absence is not specified in the comments. In the event of referring to these designations in the comments, the square brackets are not mentioned. Obvious slips of the pen in S-68 and S-83 have been corrected in this edition without qualification.

The score of the Quintet in this version has been published in a separate edition—DSCH, Moscow, 2014 (S-2014). Any small changes that appeared in this edition during editing and were made after S-2014 came out are specified in these comments.

To the Jean Vuillaume Quartet

Two Pieces for String Quartet

Sans Op. 1931

This edition is based on the publication of the score of Two Pieces by DSCH Publishers—DSCH, Moscow, 2006. The following are taken into account: author’s manuscript of the score, as well as the authorized hand-written copy of the score (AC). In some disputed episodes, the author’s manuscript of the parts of Two Pieces is taken into account (AP).

Obvious slips of the pen in author’s manuscript of the score in several episodes corrected by the author himself in AP.

Mili Balakirev—Polka

Arranged for Two Harps by Dmitri Shostakovich

Sans Op. 1941

This edition is based on the only publication of this work in the following edition: Album of Pieces for
a Harp, Issue 1, Sovetsky kompozitor, Moscow, 1979.

Obvious slips of the pen are corrected in this edition without specification.