Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich ： Aphorisms No.9 Legend Op.13-9

No. 9, “Legend,” from Shostakovich’s *Aphorisms* is a miniature that condenses a speech-like melody and a quiet afterglow into a brief span. Rather than placing brilliant virtuosity in the foreground, it creates an atmosphere suggestive of distant memories through the spaces between notes and shifting harmonies. Instead of pursuing a large-scale development, the piece seems to move through several melodic units whose expressions change, making its growing stillness toward the end a particular point of interest. It is important to maintain the flow of the melody, keep the inner voices and accompaniment restrained, and avoid widening the dynamic range too abruptly. Use the pedal to preserve resonance without blurring the texture, and let each note sing carefully so that the subtle shading beneath the simplicity can emerge.