Symphony No. 2 in B major, Op. 13 ‘To October’ – Dmitri Shostakovich

Symphony No. 2 in B major, Op. 13 ‘To October’ by Dmitri Shostakovich

Shostakovich completed the first version of his second symphony in October of 1927 at the age of 21. The composition was commissioned by Lev Shuglin, the head of the Propaganda Department of the State Music Publishing House (Muzsektor), to be part of the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution. While this would not be the first or the last time that Shostakovich felt ominous pressure from the Politburo to compose music for a purpose other than artistic expression, it would one of the more difficult works for the young composer to complete while satisfying both the publisher and the public.

Shostakovich wanted to move away from the style of his first symphony, which took a year to complete, the same amount of time he did not have to complete his second. Additionally, there was pressure to move away from the more conventional musical style of his first symphony to embrace a modernist style that the Politburo felt better reflected the ‘virtue’ of the state.

This symphony was first performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy Capella Choir on November 5, 1927. After the premiere, Shostakovich made some revisions to the score, and this final version was first played in Moscow later in 1927 with Konstantin Saradzhev conducting.

This work is comprised of a single movement, however there are four distinct sections:
I. Largo 00:00
II. Allegro 03:40
III. Poco meno mosso. Allegro molto 05:40
IV. Chorus: “To October” 11:24