Six Romances on Verses by W. Raleigh, R. Burns and W. Shakespeare.

The two orchestrations of the cycle “Six Romances on Verses by W. Raleigh, R. Burns and W. Shakespeare” done by Shostakovich himself are separated by almost 30 years. The first version for bass soloist and full symphony orchestra appeared immediately after the original version for soloist and piano was completed and published. The version of the cycle for full symphony orchestra was not performed during Shostakovich’s lifetime.

The chamber version of the cycle under Op. 140 was more popular than the version with full symphony orchestra. It was performed for the first time on 30 November 1973 in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory by Yevgeny Nesterenko and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under Rudolf Barshai. Shostakovich was present at the premiere, as well as at its previous rehearsals on 28 and 29 November.

1. Sir Walter Raleigh to His Sonne. Words by W. Raleigh. Translated by B. Pasternak.
2. Oh Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast. Words by R. Burns. Translated by S. Marshak.
3. MacPherson’s Farewell. Words by R. Burns. Translated by S. Marshak.
4. Jenny. Words by R. Burns. Translated by S. Marshak.
5. Sonnet LXVI. Words by W. Shakespeare. Translated by B. Pasternak.
6. The King’s Campaign (The Grand Old Duke of York). Translated by S. Marshak.

Orchestra:

Op. 62а:
Piccolo, 2 Flauti, 2 Oboi, Corno inglese, Clarinetto piccolo (Es) = Clarinetto III (B), 2 Clarinetti (A, B), Clarinetto basso, 2 Fagotti, Contrafagotto
3 Trombe (B), 4 Corni (F), 3 Tromboni, Tuba
Timpani, Triangolo, Tamburino, Tamburo, Piatti, Cassa, Tam-tam
Silofono, Celesta
2 Arpe
Violini I, Violini II, Viole, Violoncelli, Contrabassi

Op. 62/140:
Flauto, Fagotto
2 Corni (F)
Timpani, Triangolo
Celesta
Violini (10), Viole (4), Violoncelli (3), Contrabassi (2)

The version of the cycle for bass soloist and full symphony orchestra was not published—in this volume, the score of Op. 62a is being published for the first time. The later version for bass soloist and chamber orchestra Op. 140 was printed for the first time by Muzfond Publishers in 1971. The next edition came out in Volume 32 of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Collected Works (Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1982.

This edition is based on the author’s manuscript of the previously unpublished score kept at the Glinka All-Russia Museum Association of Musical Culture (VMOMK) (rec. gr. 32, f. 87). The original version of the romances for bass soloist and piano, Op. 62 (New Collected Works, Vol. 95, DSCH, Moscow, 2012) and the version for bass soloist and chamber orchestra, Op. 62/140 (Collected Works, Vol. 31, Muzyka Publishers, Moscow, 1982) were also used.