Re: Track of the week
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 5:14 pm
# 9 Symphony no. 7 op 60 by Dmitri Shostakovich
The first link is to the whole symphony, played by Marin Alsop with the Frankfurt Radio SO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z8TZjcqYhY&t=42s
The second link is to the final few minutes of the symphony, in a recording of Bernstein conducting the Chicago SO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EJgCwbfFn0
I can't play this symphony without tearing up. One reason is that the sound itself produces an autonomic response, even not knowing the story behind its composition - it is well worth reading its history on wikipedia. The story itself is highly emotional.
It was composed during the siege of Leningrad, the city cut off and starving in freezing conditions, besieged by the German army. It was flown out and performed in Kuybychev in spring 1942 and broadcast across Russia. Within weeks the score had reached London and New York and were performed there. Later in 1942 it was performed by the starved remnants of what was left of the musicians still alive in Leningrad.
At the time it was seen as a symbol of Russian resistance to Nazism and the triumph of humanity in response to fascism. Later, Shostakovich revealed
that it was also a hidden response to Stalin's domestic reign of terror, for example the invasion theme can be interpreted in two ways.
I think of Shostakovich as the greatest 20th century composer, by some distance. He had a pretty awful life living under Stalinism, often fearing for his life and with official decrees requiring that only music of a certain kind would be tolerated. I find his music often highly emotional, but there is also a lot which is beyond my understanding and intellect. He could write simple stuff too: one of you might recognise this Grade 1 Piano practice piece:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEBAvhy3sok
The first link is to the whole symphony, played by Marin Alsop with the Frankfurt Radio SO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z8TZjcqYhY&t=42s
The second link is to the final few minutes of the symphony, in a recording of Bernstein conducting the Chicago SO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EJgCwbfFn0
I can't play this symphony without tearing up. One reason is that the sound itself produces an autonomic response, even not knowing the story behind its composition - it is well worth reading its history on wikipedia. The story itself is highly emotional.
It was composed during the siege of Leningrad, the city cut off and starving in freezing conditions, besieged by the German army. It was flown out and performed in Kuybychev in spring 1942 and broadcast across Russia. Within weeks the score had reached London and New York and were performed there. Later in 1942 it was performed by the starved remnants of what was left of the musicians still alive in Leningrad.
At the time it was seen as a symbol of Russian resistance to Nazism and the triumph of humanity in response to fascism. Later, Shostakovich revealed
that it was also a hidden response to Stalin's domestic reign of terror, for example the invasion theme can be interpreted in two ways.
I think of Shostakovich as the greatest 20th century composer, by some distance. He had a pretty awful life living under Stalinism, often fearing for his life and with official decrees requiring that only music of a certain kind would be tolerated. I find his music often highly emotional, but there is also a lot which is beyond my understanding and intellect. He could write simple stuff too: one of you might recognise this Grade 1 Piano practice piece:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEBAvhy3sok