String Quartet No.1 Op.49 First movement

The first movement from the first quartet is the most approachable of the quartets included in this album for both players and audience. It was described by Shostakovich as “naïve and bright with associations of spring”.

The movement is in a gentle lilting 3/4 with a lyrical first subject. The second subject is cadenza-like accompanied by a witty glissando motif.

The movement demands a strong rhythmic pulse, the ability to characterise bare notes plus both cantabile and spiccato bow strokes.