24 Preludes and Fugues (Shostakovich)

The 24 Preludes and Fugues (Op 87) of Dmitri Shostakovich are a cycle of piano pieces, written in each major and minor key of the chromatic scale. As such it follows the form of Johann Sebastian Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier written some 200 years earlier, although the musical style is Shostakovich's own.

Related Topics:
Dmitri Shostakovich - Major - Minor - Chromatic scale - Johann Sebastian Bach - The Well-Tempered Clavier

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Each key is represented by two pieces, a prelude followed by a fugue woven from a musical idea taken from the preceding prelude. The pieces vary in pace, length and complexity, including a five part fugue in No. 13. Unlike Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, in which the pieces are arranged in parallel major/minor pairs ascending the chromatic scale (C major, C minor, C sharp major, C sharp minor etc.), Shostakovich's set proceeds in relative major/minor pairs around the circle of fifths: first C major, then A minor, G major, E minor, D major, B minor, and so on, ending with D minor. (Frederic Chopin's set of 24 preludes is organised in the same way).

Related Topics:
Prelude - Fugue - Parallel major/minor - Chromatic scale - Relative major/minor - Circle of fifths - Frederic Chopin

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The first prelude starts with the same notes as the first prelude from Bach's cycle and there are other references and quotations from Bach to be found in many of the later parts. Of course there are also many references and musical ideas taken from Shostakovich's own work. The complete cycle takes about two and a half hours to play.

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