Shostakovich's eleventh symphony is highly programmatic a large-scale tribute to the 'victory' of the Great October Revolution of 1917 composed on the 40th anniversary of the occasion. The first of the four movements is called The Palace Square setting the sombre scene where the violent events of the day would occur and Shostakovitch includes two Russian prison songs. The second movement The Ninth of January pictures the workers' march through the streets and their slaughter. In memoriam is the title of the third movement a pensive requiem and in the last movement The Tocsin the spirit of revolt returns with militant songs and a triumphant percussive finale. This is a clear and well presented Sikorski Edition miniature score.
