The stifling String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, op. 110 is very different of the Piano Quintet op.57. It was written in 1960, when the Shostakovich’s life was again clouded, and he had recently been through a serious inspirational crisis. In the ruins of Dresden, he attempted to complete his music for the film Five days - five nights. This new quartet was written in just three days, between 12 and 14 July. Shostakovich had this to say about it:
‘I composed my Quartet No. 8 with the idea that, if I happened to die, no one would think of writing a work to my memory. I therefore decided to write it myself. The cover could bear the words: “Dedicated to the author of this quartet”. The main theme of the quartet consists of the notes D. Es. C. H., that is to say, my initials [i.e. D. Sch, the German transliteration of his name] and I have quoted some of my own works - a short anthology!’
The work was first performed on 2 October 1960 by the Beethoven Quartet.

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Shostakovich, String Quartet No.8 in C minor Op.110 - Allegro molto

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