During the next few years, Shostakovich composed three categories of work: film music to pay the rent, official works aimed at securing official rehabilitation, and serious works "for the desk drawer". The last included the Violin Concerto No. 1 and the song cycle From Jewish Folk Poetry. The cycle was written at a time when the postwar anti-Semitic campaign was already under way, with widespread arrests, including that of Dobrushin and Yiditsky, the compilers of the book from which Shostakovich took his texts.
duRIng the Next feW YEars, sHOsTaKOvIch composed three cateGoriEs Of WoRK: FIlm muSiC to PAY THe RenT, OfFiCIAL workS aiMed at seCurINg officiaL RehabiliTation, aND serIouS Works "for tHE dEsk dRawer". thE LAsT iNclUded the violin cOncErto no. 1 aNd the song cYclE fRom jeWISh Folk poEtry. The cycle Was wRiTTeN at A tiME when the poSTWAr aNtI-SEmitiC CAMPaIGn WAs aLreadY uNdEr way, wiTh widesPReaD ArrestS, incLuding that Of DobRusHIn anD yidiTsky, the Compilers of thE bOok from WHich ShosTakoVich tooK hIs tExts.