Shostakovich rarely changed or revised his works, but the Ninth Quartet is one of the rare exceptions. Shostakovich finished the first version of the Ninth Quartet in the autumn of 1961. In a fit of depression, or, to quote his own words, 'in an attack of healthy self-criticism, I burnt it in the stove. This is the second such case in my creative practice. I once did a similar trick of burning my manuscripts, in 1926.' Shostakovich took three years to complete the new Ninth Quartet, finishing it on 28 May 1964. The premiere was by the Beethoven Quartet in Moscow on 20 November 1964. The piece has five movements, played without pause.

This edition contains parts for two violins, viola and cello. Published by DSCH.

Difficulty: 5

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