Brilliant Interval Canon in Shostakovich Symphony No. 4, Movement 2

[@slateflash]

YES. THIS POLYTONAL TRIPPY WOODWIND FUGUE OMG

[@bgarri57]

This symphony has always captivated me. It's great to hear an expert explain why it's a masterpiece.

I havent listened to Shostakovich in years...not sure why i have been so stupid....

[@johnmclaren9203]

That's just wonderful. It's impossible to catch all of this stuff while listening, even though it's clear that a lot of amazing stuff is going on in rapid succession. I'd also like to point out that this video is not only insightful but *very concise.* That's a big plus. Thank you.

[@Richard.Atkinson]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

The beauty of the entire symphonic repertoire. It's never the same twice to the listener....

[@brendonmcmorrow3886]

It’s genius at work. No doubt whatsoever. The 4th Symphony is a truly disturbing symphony but it also represents the creative apogee of Shostakovich’s early career before the first denunciation forced him to move in a different direction. It’s bombastic, distinctly Mahlerian and full of Russian grotesque. The finale and coda to the third movement may be the eeriest thing in the classical repertoire. Could this be the subject of another upload? Many thanks.

[@nealhines4476]

I find the coda to be the most haunting.

[@rogeraustin684]

Thanks so much, this is brilliant! We love DSCH, we love his fourth symphony and we love violas!

[@DynastieArtistique]

Richard could you do a video dedicated to analyzing the 4th symphony. In my opinion it’s Shostakovich’s greatest work and one of the greatest symphonies of all time. It would be awesome to see you analyze it

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Another great video. Shostakovich 4 and 10 are his greatest symphonies in my opinion.

[@jerzy1306]

Each is different and well performed,fantastic/maybe less the 12th/

[@emillubov1620]

Agreed ! Which interpretations are your favorite ? Here on YT you can see 2 great interpretations directed by Gergiev.

[@Alix777.]

4 and 8

[@DynastieArtistique]

4, 13, 10 are the top 3 imo

[@NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

I was analysing this passage today and just being amazed by the sound of the full woodwind consort. Wow. It’s so satisfying to listen to when they all arrive at that d major chord from all directions

[@JJBerthume]

These are wonderful, how do you not have more views! :O

[@s0undf0rm]

Simply the best of music...people were crying after 4th, not just back in the days, circa 2023...😢❤what a magnificent experience🙏

[@59piano]

Just terrific. I always loved this passage but didn't know it was canonic throughout. Thank you.

[@TamiamiJones]

The woodwind crescendo at the end sounds like the THX digital soundbite! Thank you!

[@Richard.Atkinson]

Ha! It definitely does! Best comment on my videos in a long time!

[@bt8257]

I'm going through Shostakovich's body of work right now, starting with his symphonies. Due to having watched this video before, I specifically listened rather closely for this part while listening to this symphony; thankfully, I didn't miss it. I can safely say its my favorite part of this symphony, mainly for how creative it truly is.

[@shantihealer]

Really interesting. Many thanks. Musical analysis with HEARABLE illustrations AND score is so educational. Please do more from this incredible symphony.

[@csiszar311]

More Shostakovich!

[@enriquesanchez2001]

Terrific lesson - I can't get enough of your analyses.

[@TheZgfzd]

That ending is very similar to the ending of his 2nd cello concerto!

[@georgekelk9575]

And the end of the 15th symphony.

[@davidfloren5339]

@@georgekelk9575 Those closing lines of the 15th transport me to another world.

[@SunnyKhuranaViolin]

@@davidfloren5339 yeah it's scary

[@AndreyRubtsovRU]

@@davidfloren5339 not just you. i think it literally what it symbolizes for composer himself

[@davidfloren5339]

@@AndreyRubtsovRU anticipating and preparing for death as a secular humanist can be more challenging and hard to do than it is for those who lean heavily on comforting myths about an afterlife.

[@ApsisApocynthion]

So damn creative. This is why I love Shosta and why this symphony, especially, caught my imagination as a teenager.

[@nealhines4476]

Thank you for this terrific analysis. The percussion at the closing of the 15th Sym. Cones to mind but finishing in a completely different way. Rip dear Dmitry

[@slubert]

fun and short.. more of this please. thumbs up

[@nakedmambo]

I'm attending a performance of this symphony next month, so I added your notes to my pocket score.

[@MrHestichs]

This has to be the best thing i have heard this year sofar and the thing i have enjoyed listening most. Thank you for sharing this! it is truly amazing.

[@f.scottwalters7349]

A wonderful, clear exposition of memorable portions of my favorite DSCH symphony (well, tied with the Fifteenth, which, of course, ends with the same percussion effects of this one). Thank you.

[@HAEngel-cr5gp]

Just amazing!! Great work as always, Mr. Atkinson. I always learn so much from you! Thank you so very much for all you share with us.

[@6558369]

Your chanel is absolutely brilliant

[@RyanRenteria]

this piece is so good live. thanks for the video

[@gracelee5200]

Great Analysis! So fun to watch it.

[@trueandika]

This is some crazy stuff, never noticed how clever it was !

[@amjatias2286]

More Shostakovich, PLEASE !!!

[@sandybananas5026]

Please do more videos on Shostakovich. Hes my favorite and I love studying his music

[@doricdream498]

This whole symphony is a treat! The violent presto fugue from the first movement might be my favorite musical passage ever written.

[@jdvs8475]

Wow! It's just amazing, I didn't notice all the things you explained in the video. Thank you so much! Also, could you do some Mahler? I think it would be amazing if you made a video about his 6th or 3rd symphony. Thank you so much!

[@norgchem]

My favorite Shostakovich symphony. By the way the ending of the second move has always grabbed me.

[@bassoonistfromhell]

My favorite of his symphonies, his most underrated one too in my opinion.

[@steve.schatz]

Wonderful! Great! I will listen to Shosh with new ears!

[@slateflash]

Do some Bartok! There's a similar, equally incredible polytonal fugue in the 1st piano concerto and a lot of fugal stuff in the 2nd concerto as well

[@Richard.Atkinson]

One of the next pieces on my list is the finale of Bartok's 4th quartet.

Richard Atkinson also consider the Concerto for Orchestra? Incredible piece.

[@worlds726thbestguy4]

Are you planning to do a video about those Shostakovich’s intense and coarse passages？（such as his 11th 2nd movement or 5th 4th movement) that’ll be hugely interesting!

[@jonathanlohn4376]

Really insightful adding so much to music I already enjoy

[@Maharani1991]

Amazing. Thanks for the video :)

[@AndreyRubtsovRU]

I feel like fugues and canons deserve adoration with their craft in tonal pieces - since it's quite hard to put it all together if it's a complex structure. When it's as broken a tonal language as Sh4 it deserves praise for other qualities, but writing complex fugue or canon? I mean... not hard.

[@Richard.Atkinson]

I somewhat agree with this. For example, I think the palindromic minuet in Haydn's 47th Symphony is more impressive than palindromes in Webern's pieces.

[@katiefair4389]

Dude! The ending!

[@OrKestrAlan]

Very good Analysis thanks 👌

[@chrissahar2014]

Thanks much, would have loved to have heard more about this symphony. I have been a bot lukewarm to Shostakovich - with just a handful of his works really drawing me back to them. But your analysis here is very helpful in better appreciating Shostakovich's craft. Only tiny critique, it should be added that before the 20th century canons at the 7th/2nd were extremely rare, the only one I believe that is well-known is a piano sonata by Clementi --- it would be informative to compare Clementi's treatment with Shostakovich to illuminate the differences and similarities between late 18th century counterpoint and early/mid counterpoint. For me this is also fortunate as I am reviewing my counterpoint - I am a composer and came across a wonderful book on symmetrical scales and symmetrical counterpoint by Ziehn from the early 20th century. Using as a departure point to practice counterpoint for a series of short organ pieces. It is to serve as a sort of active rest/reset for me before I return to writing some works more ambitious in plan and forces than I have been for the past few years.

[@Richard.Atkinson]

That's definitely an interesting idea for a video. I will push back against your claim a little though. The Goldberg Variations are certainly more famous than any of Clementi's piano sonatas, and they have both a canon at the 2nd and one at the 7th. Mozart also composed a four voice canon at the 2nd, K. 562c that I uploaded to my channel many years ago (link below). I'm sure there are many other examples but those are three that come to mind immediately. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3Sck36cr712Z5o

[@chrissahar2014]

@@Richard.Atkinson Thanks for pointing out these either I had forgotten or never knew- The Goldbergs being a piece I know some of not not thoroughly. The Mozart 562c I did not know about.

[@gabrielfromyhr5694]

I know it sounds far fetched, but the usage of the 4 note motif reminds me of the 4 note motif used in Haydn symphony 28 1st movement

[@composer7325]

Excellent

[@kropchik]

Thank you!

[@grannybrer]

Thank you

[@grannybrer]

I always love these!! Thanks for your work.

[@dimitrismichelioudakis4465]

brilliant, thank you

[@henrygingercat]

fascinating

[@sneddypie]

i love shostakovich

[@andrewlankford9634]

I usually like his first movements better, although the 2nd movement of his 5th always grabs me.

[@jerzy1306]

Master,like Mozart,Chopin and Bach...

[@vkkoorchester666]

yes

[@sneddypie]

instead of gathering an army of soldiers, shosty boi got some woodwinds. also, isnt hilarious endings what shostakovich is all about?

[@omega_motika]

Catacombes de Paris

[@barney6888]

Wonderful... although I hate to admit it, but I can produce truly awful overtones on the clarinet, at any volume

[@villiestephanov984]

😍😘

[@Jivanmuktishu]

Mr Atkinson. Your voice is somewhat robotic here. Get a better mike.

[@JWP452]

Shostakovich was brilliant. This is not a very good example of his enormous talent.

[@MG-ye1hu]

This symphony is certainly one of Shostakovich most interesting works, not least due to its biographical background. However, to call this canon brillant from a professional/contrapuntical standpoint is somehow misleading. Since consonances/dissonances are completely random in this musical style, it takes absolutely no skill to write this down. This symphony is a masterpiece but its features and merits are in a completely different area.

[@mirrormoonknight856]

You display a grotesque sense of humour, not least due to your astonishingly peculiar choice of the word "contrapuntical".

[@danielzarb-cousin5945]

Shosty made a quirky chromatic theme and then made a dissonant cannon out of it. What is so brilliant here? The cannon doesn't line up to make some fantastic counterpoint.

[@RyanRenteria]

the effect is pretty striking. theres a lot of interesting experimentation going on here.

[@danielzarb-cousin5945]

Interesting experimentation =/= Brilliance

[@RyanRenteria]

but they're not mutually exclusive. you can have both. i would argue that not only does that cannon have a really cool effect harmonically, but his orchestration choice is amazing. the end result is absolutely striking and creative. Seeing this piece live is one of the greatest experiences i've had at a concert. symphony #4 is young DSCH when he was free to experiment without consequence, and he takes the listener for a hell of a ride. this video shows just one of many wild moments in this piece. It's captivating from beginning to end.

[@Tizohip]

you make better?

[@danielzarb-cousin5945]

No I think Shosty has me beat on making a quirky chromatic theme and then making a dissonant cannon out of it. Darn.