Allegretto: from Symphony No. 5, Mvt. 2 - Cello

Shostakovichs Fifth Symphony was written in 1937 and premiered that year in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). It was a major success with an ovation lasting over 30 minutes. The symphony is approximately 45 minutes in length and has four movements.  Allegretto is the second movement. It is a scherzo in form with a vein of humor that approaches grotesqueness. The work is a waltz parody with marcato sections of intense contrast.