Dmitri Schostakowitsch

24 Preludes & Fugues 1 op. 87

In 1950 Dmitri Shostakovich travelled to Leipzig to judge a piano competition held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of J. S. Bach's death. One of the contestents, Tatiana Nikolayeva, came prepared to perform any one of Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier upon request. She went on to win the Gold Medal. The following year, Shostakovich completed his own set of 24 Preludes and Fugues, one in each key, dedicated to Nikolayeva. Volume 1 of the classic edition of this twentieth century solo piano masterpiece, contains Preludes and Fugues Op. 87 Nos. 1-12.