Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8, II. Allegro molto // EMERSON STRING QUARTET

Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110, was written in three days, 12–14 July 1960.

The piece was written shortly after two traumatic events in the life of the composer: the first presentation of debilitating muscular weakness that would eventually be diagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and his reluctant joining of the Communist Party.

The quartet was premiered in 1960 in Leningrad by the Beethoven Quartet. 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.

Performed by Emerson String Quartet

[CorverPlay]

I love how at 1:00 quartet sounds like orchestra. Probably one of my favorite pieces. Excellent work!

[luxaeterna]

After a month, I watched this at least twenty times, because it’s just too beautiful, I love how the strings sound at 00:58 and 02:26, It’s catchy, It almost seems like flutes or similar instruments to me!

[dimitrishostakovich]

Well, you really did well on my quartet! Great job!

[luxaeterna]

This sounds so dramatic, I love Shostakovich’s style, he could express many emotions in a beautiful way! Thank you very much for this video, I watched it twice, I loved it!

[FireliqhtzItsBecauseITry]

This was unexpected and a pleasant surprise to say the least. The history behind this piece (Shostakovich's issues with the Soviet regime) is fascinating and you can almost hear the tension.

[cn]

Was just listening to this last night as music helps me sleep, then today I arrive to this, an amazing coincidence indeed.

[aydenrodriguez]

honestly I can’t believe you did this. the quartet is my all time favorite. probably one of the closest pieces of music to me. and now I have an awesome different point of view of it

[kmk]

I can feel anger, the pain the suffering of shostakovich while writing this piece

[theend]

its crazy how percussive it sounds at 1:00 almost like a drum... it would be cool if you could do the other "psycho" string quartet movements (3rd mvmt 3, 7th mvmt 3 and 10th mvmt 2)

[thenameisgsarci]

Has anybody counted how many times the DSCH motif appears? XD

[TGMGame]

im sending this to a bunch of people and asking them "isnt this relaxing?"

[oceancheung]

One of my favourite Shostakovich’s string quartet’s movement, really dramatic and always reminds me of Helloween

[italiancheesecurl]

More Shostakovich??? What have we done to be deserving of this wonder!

[asterius]

First time hearing this piece. Going to be hard to get that ending out my head. Quite a dark piece that's for sure. Great job as always on putting it together

[pianos]

Fantastic work, one of my favourite string quartets! Could you please do Shostakovich Symphony no. 10 movement 2?

[FreakieFan]

This is amazing. And it's so helpful to understand the writing of string quartets in a visual way. I've always wanted to write a piece for multiple strings and this is actually so helpful to get a better understanding.

[Maggot]

Esto es fascinante y trágico. Lo amo, tan hermoso

[kingdmtv]

0:59 When you're one step from destroying your Christmas tree and your Mom comes in

[ejp]

I honestly could never really get into string music because it sounded too "classical" for me, but this is absolutely amazing, well done! P.S. you deserve way more subscribers than that marioverehrer, same with Eppur--we must spread the word!

[unoriginal]

The fact that this is 480 BPM scares me.