'In memory of the victims of fascism', was the motto of Shostakovich 'Eighth String Quartet. Probably this motto was only a concession to Soviet propaganda. In a letter to Glikman (published in Dutch as Kroniek van een Vriendschap, Hoogland & Van Klaveren 2006) the composer wrote: 'I was thinking that if I ever die, no one will write a piece in my memory. . That's why I did that myself. It should
… also be on the cover: 'In memory of the author of this quartet.' 'The composer refers to himself by means of the notes D, E-flat, C, H, (Shostakovich's initials D.Sch.). He also used countless quotations from his own work: themes from the First and Eighth Symphonies, the Piano Trio No. 2, the Cello Concerto and Lady MacBeth. 'The pseudo-tragedy of this quartet is such that while writing it, I shed as many tears as someone sheds urine after six mugs of beer,' says the composer. The St. Lawrence String Quartet won an Edison for this CD. (HJ)more