Shostakovich wrote his 24 Preludes and Fugues after returning to the USSR from a piano competition in Leipzig where he was impressed by a contestant's playing of all 48 of Bach's Well Tempered Clavier pieces. This monumental work for piano, inspired by but in Shostakovich's own style, contains preludes with distinctive textures and moods. Jeff Miller's arrangement of the work for seven players adds new colors and allows the tubist to be both musical and virtuosic as both an ensemble player and soloist, complementing this distinctly Russian music.

1. Shostakovich Prelude suite from Op 87
Shostakovich wrote his 24 Preludes and Fugues after returning to
the USSR from Leipzig where he had been one of the judges in a
prestigious piano competition commemorating the 200th
anniversary of Bach’s death in 1949. His inspiration was the piano
playing of one of the contestants Tatiana Nickoayeva, although
required to play only one Prelude and Fugue from Bach’s Well
Tempered Clavier, had prepared all 48 pieces and so impressed
Shostakovich he recommended her for 1st prize, which she duly
won. When completed the cycle was premiered by Tatiana in
December 1952.
This monumental work is one of the greatest original compositions
for the piano of the 20th century, and although inspired by Bach it
is clearly in his own style. Each movement containing its own
distinctive texture and mood.
Jeff Miller’s skilful arrangement for seven players not only add
new colours to the music but affords the opportunity for a skilled
tubist to be both musical and virtuosic within the context of the
work, combining the rolls of ensemble player and soloist that
brilliantly complements this distinctly Russian music.
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