Prelude

The Prelude (Allegretto, completed November 26, 1950) is a jocular piece. It juxtaposes an accompaniment that maintains a steady rhythm, reminiscent of string pizzicato, with a right-hand melody that leaps about. A figure observed midway through (for example, the eighth-note pattern (E♯-)E♯-E-E-D-D-D♯-D♯-E-E-D♯-D♯-D from measure 10 onwards) is called "Iambic Prima" (Yambicheskaya Prima) due to its rhythm and the intervals used, and it frequently appears in Shostakovich's works from his middle period onwards. Although this figure is often used as a strong emotional expression, in this piece, despite being emphasized by a crescendo, it gives the impression of a subtle build-up.

Fugue

From the lightness of the Prelude, the atmosphere shifts dramatically in the Fugue (3 voices, Andante, completed November 27, 1950). The fragmented subject, striking with its crescendo-emphasized tritone, sounds as if it is speaking with difficulty, bringing a sense of unease and tension to the entire piece. Furthermore, the frequent use of the middle and lower registers throughout the piece intensifies this atmosphere. Even the stretto, where the subjects respond to each other, resonates like an empty echo due to the piano's gradually decaying timbre, caused by the stretched rhythm of the subject itself.