The Symphony No. 1 in F Minor (Opus 10) by Dmitri Shostakovich was written between 1924 and 1925, and first performed in Leningrad by the Leningrad Philharmonic under Nikolai Malko on 12 May 1926. He wrote the work as his graduation piece at the Leningrad Conservatory , completing it at the age of 19.
The symphony is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (triangle, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, bells), piano, and strings.
The work has four movements:
- Allegretto - Allegro non troppo
- Allegro - Meno mosso - Allegro - Meno mosso
- Lento - Largo - [Lento] (attacca:)
- Allegro molto - Lento - Allegro molto - Meno mosso - Allegro molto - Molto meno mosso - Adagio
It is a lively and witty piece, approximately half an hour in length, and reminiscent of the works of Igor Stravinsky or Sergei Prokofiev. Some of the motifs in the work are derived from the composer's childhood compositions.
