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The original text of all the editions of the score of the Sixth Symphony is not the author’s manuscript, but a hand-written copy of the score with the author’s notes which is kept in Dmitri Shostakovich’s private depository in the Russian State Archives of Literature and Art (rec. gr. 2048, inv. 1, f. 7). The score of the Sixth Symphony was published three times during the composer’s lifetime: in 1941 (Muzgiz Publishers, Moscow), 1962 (Muzyka Publishers, Moscow) and 1968 (Muzyka Publishers, Moscow). In 1980, the first posthumous edition of the score was published in Volume 3 of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Collected Works (Muzyka Publishers, Moscow) using the authorised hand-written copy and the 1941 and 1962 editions, but without reference to the 1968 edition.

This edition is based on the score published in the Collected Works, but also takes into account the 1968 edition. We have removed any editing corrections we feel are superfluous. Obvious errors in the text are corrected without comment. Clarifications by the editor are given in square brackets.

The editor of the first posthumous edition of the score in Volume 3 of the Collected Works (1980), who did not take into account the 1968 edition, apparently considered the 1962 edition the last edition published during Shostakovich’s lifetime and thus an expression of the author’s final will. In this edition, we are restoring the metronome marks of hand-written copy, which also appear in the first and last editions of the score published during the composer’s lifetime.

Instrumentation:
Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, E flat Clarinet, (= B flat Clarinet III), 2 B flat Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon (= bassoon III), 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Triangle, Tambourine, Side drum, Cymbals, Bass drum, Gong, Xylophone, Celesta, Harp, Strings

This ambitious series by DSCH, the exclusive publisher of the works of Dmitri Shostakovich, when complete, will run to 150 volumes.

Based on authentic manuscripts, accompanied by commentaries in Russian and in English, each volume contains new engravings, articles relating to the history of the compositions, facsimile pages of Shostakovich's manuscripts, outlines, and rough drafts.

Divided into 15 different "series" or genres, the edition will include nearly all the original works of the composer, and his instrumentation of music by Domenico Scarlatti, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Johann Strauss, Youmans, Braga, Tishchenko, and others.

25% of the New Collected Works will be made up of previously unpublished material: over 80 of his works are being published here for the first time. Many of these previously unknown works could not be published or performed during the composer's lifetime for ideological reasons.

The fifteen "series" within the edition comprise:
I: Symphonies (vols 1-30)
II: Orchestra Compositions (vols 31-37)
III: Instrumental Concertos (vols 38-49)
IV: Compositions for the Stage (vols 50-67)
V: Suites from Operas and Ballets (vols 68-72)
VI: Compositions for Choir and Orchestra (With or Without Soloists) (vols 73-83)
VII: Unaccompanied Choral Compositions/Arrangements of Russian Folksongs (vols 84-86)
VIII: Compositions for Solo Voice(S) With Orchestra (vols 87-90)
IX: Chamber Compositions for Voice and Songs (vols 91-97)
X: Chamber Instrumental Ensembles (vols 98-105)
XI: Instrumental Sonatas(vols 106-108)
XII: Piano Compositions (vols 109-115)
XIII: Incidental Music (vols 116-121)
XIV: Film Music (vols 122-145)
XV: The Works of Other Composers, Instrumentation by Shostakovich (vols 146-150)