Shostakovich-String Quartet No.8 Movement 1

Question 1

What tonality features are there in this piece?

Answer 1

• At the start the tonality is ambiguous because if chromaticism.
• Tonic and dominant pedal notes help to reinforce the tonality once the key of C major has been established.
• Double pedal points.

Question 2

What are the harmonic features of this piece?

Answer 2

• No thirds in some chords making the key ambiguous.
• Tonic pedal, dominant.
• Drone.
• Suspensions.
• Some less traditional chord progressions. G+ Eb- F+.

Question 3

What are the structural features of this piece?

Answer 3

• Arch form.
• ABCBA’ section A is modified.
• Section C has theme from his 5th symphony.
• Section B is chromatic pp.
• Extension material e.g coda.