Soviet composer (1906–1975) whose fifteen symphonies occupy a place of central performance in the orchestral literature of the twentieth century. AMQS, signed “D. Shostakovich,” on an off-white 6 x 3.75 card bearing an embossed rose branch. Shostakovich pens two intricate bars of music from one of his works, and dates the quote December 3, 1969. A small photo of the composer has been affixed to top edge. Light postal impression to lower left and a trivial spot to top right, otherwise very fine, bright condition.
In the spring of 1969, shortly before penning this musical quotation, Shostakovich had completed Symphony No. 14 (Opus 135), which debuted later that year. The somber work, created for soprano, bass, and a small string orchestra with percussion, focuses on the theme of death—often unjust— as created through a series of poems by four authors. Although the symphony was set in Russian, two other versions of the work exist with the texts translated into either German or their original languages. A scarce and desirable offering from one of Russia’s greatest classical music minds. RRAuction COA.
