Edited sentence: 4 ranks as one of Shostakovich's best symphonies with regard to instrumentation and overall construction.Despite its complexities, Symphony No.Its sombre mood and free form make the symphony a challenge for performers and listeners alike, but it proves Shostakovich's ability to develop ideas over a vast, sprawling landscape.Sociologically, the symphony was written during a time of fear and oppression under Stalin and can be viewed as an artist's reaction to the period