Shostakovich - 3111 Words

Dmitri Shostakovich: A Musical Representation of Communist Russia In the musical world, no one is as controversial as Dmitri Shostakovich. Although he died not 30 years ago, many aspects of his life still remain to be a great mystery. When he was alive, many in the world believed he was a Communist and a devoted servant of Stalin. It was not until after his death that the truth had come out. Or had the truth been there all along? Many believe that this was because his music expressed a lot of nationalism and idolized Stalin. However, in an attempt to escape the red fist of Stalin, Shostakovich made his music appear to be nationalistic when really it is full of sarcasm and hidden messages. Shostakovich showed his contempt Stalin and†¦show more content†¦Since Shostakovich was unable to express his ideas about Communism openly, he had to resort to sarcasm to show his resentment to the party. But how can one prove that Shostakovich used sarcasm in his works? Sarcasm in nonvocal works is usually evi dent when lots of techniques from different style periods are used. This creates contrast and exaggeration in a piece to represent sarcasm (Dmitri ). Several works of Shostakovich demonstrate this technique, but one of the more well known pieces is the Leningrad symphony. In Shostakovichs 7th Symphony, otherwise known as the Leningrad symphony, he uses a great deal of Sarcasm. During the time when the symphony was written, Shostakovich and his family were in Leningrad when the Nazis sieged the city. As the war continued, the symphony became a song of the Russian resistance against Germany (Dmitri ). The true intentions of the symphony have been highly debated. When taken at face value, it appears that Shostakovich was attempting to conform to the Soviet standards and write a piece full of patriotic themes, but when taking a more in depth look, it can be said that the piece has a double meaning (Simon, Politics ). In order to save himself from the threat of being taken away by the Se cret Police, Shostakovich wrote the piece to please Soviet authorities. He portrays Russia asShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Dmitri Shostakovich And Sergei Prokofiev2012 Words   |  9 Pageswestern â€Å"formalism†. For prominent Soviet composers Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, the struggle to maintain influence within the music world and continue composing was unequaled. Confronted with many obstacles during the course of both of their respective musical careers, Shostakovich and Prokofiev battled through the Soviet regime, their wielding their compositions as weapons in the fight for creativity. Dmitri Shostakovich was a rising star within the world of Soviet music. His FirstRead MoreDmitri Shostakovich : The Greatest Composers Of The 20th Century And The Most Important Soviet Composer1567 Words   |  7 Pagescentury and the most important Soviet composer, Dmitri Shostakovich created some of the most richly complex and experimental pieces of his time. His musical education and career took place entirely in the Soviet Union, where he created his greatest masterpieces including 15 symphonies and 15 string quartets. He forayed into several different mediums including compositions of concertos, ballets, motion-picture scores, and opera. In addition, Shostakovich was at often the center of controversy because hisRead MoreHow Dmitri Shostakovich Adhere From The Conventions And Traditions That Were Normalized? Classical Music1181 Words   |  5 Pageswill be discussing the extent that Dmitri Shostakovich adhered to and rebelled from the conventions and traditions that were norm alized in classical music and I will offer varied examples of the many times Shostakovich has obeyed and dissented within music throughout his career. The career span of Shostakovich extends from 1926 when he presented his first major work, Symphony No.1 to 1970 when he presented Quartet No. 7. Born Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich on the 25th September, 1906, in St. PetersburgRead MoreThe Role Of Music As A Reflection Of The Human Condition1161 Words   |  5 PagesShostakovich, Soviets, and Suppression Scholars and artists commonly describe music as a reflection of the human condition. The period in history from the mid-1930s onward marked a tragic phase in twentieth century music and this reflection: the total politicizing of the art by totalitarianism means. Dictators, including Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, were manipulating popular culture to take control of their people. Stalin supported the idea of a â€Å"Soviet modernism,† a school of art that wouldRead MoreEssay on Russian Composers1830 Words   |  8 Pagesare able to capture mood through a unique ability to capture exactly what they feel. Exactly how the Russians are able to do this is unknown, though through this, the greatest composers have turned out to be Russian. Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich are all able to write and portray the most detailed feelings and moods, and it is to them that we owe the advancement of all music. Tchaikovsky is one of the most beloved composers in history. An inspired craftsman of melody, orchestration andRead MoreThe Greatest Composers Of The Twentieth Century1863 Words   |  8 PagesIn the forty-one years since his passing, Dmitri Shostakovich is one of the most widely discussed and fiercely debated composers in Western Music. His compositions are known throughout the world, and his life and morals are a discussed passionately amongst musicologists with his catalogue consisting of 15 symphonies, 15 string quartets, 37 film scores, and a number of pieces in other genres. For someone that is considered one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, there lacks a consensusRead MoreConcert Critique : The Houston Civic Symphony1078 Words   |  5 PagesDmitri Shostakovich. Shostakovich was a Russian composer who was born in 1906 and died in 1975. At the young age of 9, his mother taught him the piano which he used to help build income in his family after his fatherà ¢â‚¬â„¢s passing. He composed 15 symphonies, 15 string quartets, and several other works. During this time in Shostakovich life the Soviet Union was under the control of Joseph Stalin. Massive purges, loss of life and loved ones, and bans on music of traditional composers. Shostakovich was afraidRead More Dmitri Shostakovich and Johann Sebastian Bach Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesDmitri Shostakovich and Johann Sebastian Bach Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was one of the greatest composers of Soviet Russia. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is regarded today as the father of Western music. They came from opposite ends of music history and lived in entirely different environments, but Shostakovich was undoubtedly influenced by Bach’s music, and their respective musical styles came from the same core tradition of Western music. But most importantly, underneath the obviousRead MoreAmerican Politics During The Vietnam War1370 Words   |  6 Pagesother side of the world. Both Paul Hindemith, under the Nazi Regime, and Dmitri Shostakovich, under the communist reign of Stalin, managed to fight political oppression through their music. The two composers had very different ways of doing so. Hindemith wrote two separate pieces, one that directly opposed the Nazi regime, and another that was so nationalistic he was forgiven for his previous ‘mistakes’, whereas Shostakovich wrote a single piece which seemed just as nationalistic as Hindemith’s symphonyRead MoreThe Chicago Symphony Orchestra s Presentation Of Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1 And Schostakovich s Symphony No1133 Words   |  5 Pageshis audience. The first concerto was played at the symphony orchestra and is a piece mainly dominated by the piano; the piano’s lead role reflected Rachmaninov’s major skill and talent as a pianist. The other composer’s piece performed was Dmitri Shostakovich, who was born in Leningrad, Russia. He was also famous composer that notably connected his experiences of conflict, and grief of war with the music. The revolution in his upbringing sparked and inspired many of his orchestra compositions. Music