String Quartet “B-la-f“ by Rimsky-Korsakov, Lyadov, Borodin and Glazunov

Collective work of four Russian composers, dedicated to their maecenas M. P. Belaieff. 1. Sostenuto assai. Allegro (Rimsky-Korsakov): 0:00 2. Scherzo. Vivace (Lyadov): 11:16 3. Serenata alla spagnola. Allegretto (Borodin): 18:18 4. Finale. Allegro (Glazunov): 20:50 Performed by the Shostakovich Quartet. This collective work was written in 1886, dedicated to M.Р. Belaieff and published by Belaieff in 1887. The Quartet was performed for the first time on Belaieff’s name day at his home on November 23, 1886. Belaieff liked very much this wonderful artistic impromptu and played himself the part of the viola. The Quartet is written in the classical four-part form. The first part - Sostenuto assai. Allegro - created by Rimsky-Korsakov, has the character of glorification. The second part - Scherzo .Vivace - was composed by Lyadov in a humorous manner peculiar to this composer. The third part - Serenata alla Spagnola. Allegretto - by Borodin is full of bliss and tenderness. The last part of the Qua