description Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 15 Overview
Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 15 in E-flat minor, Op. 144, was composed in 1974 as his final string quartet. It consists of six movements played without a break: Elegy, Serenade, Intermezzo, Nocturne, Funeral March, and Epilogue.
All are slow, with five marked Adagio and the Funeral March marked Adagio molto, so the work replaces the usual contrast of fast and slow movements with a sustained late style of chamber writing. It is relevant to listeners and ensembles prepared for concentrated, austere music.
help Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 15 FAQ
Why is Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 15 historically significant?
Dmitri Shostakovich completed it in 1974 as his final string quartet. The work is in E-flat minor and has an unusually grave, late style.
How many movements does String Quartet No. 15 have?
The quartet has six continuous slow movements, all marked Adagio. Instead of the usual fast-slow contrast, Shostakovich builds the entire work from variations in mourning, tension, and stillness.
What instruments perform Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 15?
It is written for the standard string-quartet forces of two violins, viola, and cello. No conductor is required, so four players must coordinate the long sequence of slow movements themselves.
What mood should I expect from String Quartet No. 15?
The music is austere, elegiac, and intensely concentrated rather than theatrical. Its six-part Adagio design makes it closer to an extended meditation than to a conventional chamber work.
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