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Like Mahler, Bernstein and Gershwin, Shostakovich was a chain smoker. |
If
Americans think they are living
through a dark time now, it would pay to
reflect on the life and work of Dmitri
Shostakovich, the featured composer for Saturday's Plainfield Symphony
program.
Though today revered as the foremost composer of the Soviet Union, Shostakovich was perpetually in hot water with the dictator Josef Stalin. Only in the Soviet Union, the penalty for crossing the boss was to be taken out and shot, not a punitive Tweet.
Originally projected as a gigantic work with chorus and soloists to celebrate the victory of Soviet forces over the Nazis, when finally premiered in November 1945, the Symphony No. 9 turned out to be a much lighter work -- even referencing Mozart.
Though initially well enough received (one critic, contrasting the work with earlier, "heavier" symphonies, allowed as how it was OK for the composer to "take a vacation"), it was subsequently banned when Shostakovich was denounced by the regime for a second time in 1948.
The Violin Concerto was composed for violinist David Oistrakh during the same period. It contains references to Beethoven's "fate" motif from the 5th Symphony as well as the "DSCH motif" which Shostakovich uses as a self-reference. After the second denunciation of Shostakovich prevented the work's public premiere, it too was shelved.
The Violin Concerto was finally premiered in 1955, long after the tyrant Stalin's death. In the softening of the cultural climate following the death of Stalin, the 9th Symphony was also once again performed in public.
These two works by the longsuffering composer remind us how important it is to take the long view of history, and to never give up hope for a better world and a better time.
The Plainfield Symphony program begins at 7:00 PM sharp this Saturday, March 10, at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church is at East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue. Parking in the church lot on First Place, on the street, or in the Swain Galleries lot. The building is a handicap accessible facility.
Though today revered as the foremost composer of the Soviet Union, Shostakovich was perpetually in hot water with the dictator Josef Stalin. Only in the Soviet Union, the penalty for crossing the boss was to be taken out and shot, not a punitive Tweet.
Originally projected as a gigantic work with chorus and soloists to celebrate the victory of Soviet forces over the Nazis, when finally premiered in November 1945, the Symphony No. 9 turned out to be a much lighter work -- even referencing Mozart.
Though initially well enough received (one critic, contrasting the work with earlier, "heavier" symphonies, allowed as how it was OK for the composer to "take a vacation"), it was subsequently banned when Shostakovich was denounced by the regime for a second time in 1948.
The Violin Concerto was composed for violinist David Oistrakh during the same period. It contains references to Beethoven's "fate" motif from the 5th Symphony as well as the "DSCH motif" which Shostakovich uses as a self-reference. After the second denunciation of Shostakovich prevented the work's public premiere, it too was shelved.
The Violin Concerto was finally premiered in 1955, long after the tyrant Stalin's death. In the softening of the cultural climate following the death of Stalin, the 9th Symphony was also once again performed in public.
These two works by the longsuffering composer remind us how important it is to take the long view of history, and to never give up hope for a better world and a better time.
The Plainfield Symphony program begins at 7:00 PM sharp this Saturday, March 10, at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church is at East 7th Street and Watchung Avenue. Parking in the church lot on First Place, on the street, or in the Swain Galleries lot. The building is a handicap accessible facility.
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