String Quartet No. 12 (Shostakovich)

Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 12 in D-flat major, Op. 133, was composed in 1968. It is dedicated to Dmitri Tsyganov, the first violinist of the Beethoven Quartet, which premiered the work in Moscow on June 14.

Structure
The work lasts approximately 26 minutes and is in two movements: 1. Moderato — Allegretto — Moderato — Allegretto — Moderato

2. Allegretto — Adagio — Moderato — Adagio — Moderato — Allegretto

The piece contains twelve-tone elements, such as the opening in the cello: