2 Analysis — Shostakovich Piano Concerto

Orchestration & Piano Writing

He wrote the Second Piano Concerto specifically for Maxim’s graduation from the Central Music School. Because it was intended for a young student, the piano writing is remarkably clear and "un-cluttered," lacking the massive, dissonant chords found in his earlier works. Despite Shostakovich later dismissing the piece in letters to friends as having "no redeeming artistic merits," it quickly became one of his most beloved and frequently performed works. Movement I: Allegro (Sonata Form)

The concerto ends with a coda of dazzling virtuosity. The piano descends in glissandos and chromatic scales, racing the orchestra to the final bar. The last chord is a blazing F major triad, but listen carefully: the horn holds a C (the dominant), creating a brief before the final tutti slam. It is a joke—a wink from the composer. After all the harmonic complexity and hidden sorrow, he ends with a chord that sounds like a child slamming a piano lid. shostakovich piano concerto 2 analysis

One of the most fascinating aspects of the finale is the seven-beat theme. Shostakovich uses a 7/8 time signature in sections, which gives the music a limping, off-kilter feel. It is a sophisticated rhythmic trick—just when you expect the beat to land, it skips away. It adds a layer of complexity and unpredictability to what sounds like a straightforward romp.

💡 While Shostakovich is famous for his tragic and politically charged symphonies, this concerto shows his incredible ability to write pure, unadulterated joy and fatherly affection. Orchestration & Piano Writing He wrote the Second

Written in a brisk 7/8 and 2/4 meter, the finale is a whirlwind of scales and folk-like rhythms.

The first movement cadenza is unique. Instead of thunderous octaves, Shostakovich writes a delicate, two-voice invention. The left hand plays a steady waltz bass; the right hand plays a simple, falling melody. It is introspective, almost sad. This cadenza is the emotional center of the Allegro—a moment where the father reminds the son that technique is nothing without feeling. Movement I: Allegro (Sonata Form) The concerto ends

: The movement is filled with "youthful vitality" and wit, often compared to the classical style of Haydn.