Shostakovich essays

Shostakovich essays Shostakovich is view as one of the greatest Russian Composers of the 20th Century. Although limited by the Soviet Government in what he was allowed to produce for performance, he still composed many great works. Shostakovich wrote many of his works by order of the government. Not only did her write music but he was also an instructor at the Leningrad Conservatory and the conservatory in Moscow. Shostakovich was born in 1906 in St. Petersburg Russia. Shostakovich got his start in his music through his mother; his mother who was a professional pianist. (http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/shostakovich.html) He also got his start at the Petrograd Conservatory which he attended from 1919 to 1925 finishing it off with composing his First Symphony as a graduation piece. With his First Symphony Shostakovich was launched into the world as a key Russian Composer for the 20th Century. His next two symphonies were greatly influenced by the governments control over performance music, Symphonies No. 2, To October, and No. 3, The first of May. Both works were references to socialism. During his early years he also worked on a few ballets and an opera that were greatly influenced by contemporary Western Music The Nose, The Age of Gold and The Bolt, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District caused him to be condemned publicly in a local news paper which was said to be straight from Stalin himse lf. (kunstderfuge.com/bios/shostakovich.html) This condemnation prevented him from releasing his fourth symphony and he also was always prepared to leave the Soviet Union. Many who were condemned by Stalin would die in work camps; Shostakovich was luck in this aspect. The fourth symphony was not released until a few years after Stalins death for fear of persecution. After being condemned, Shostakovich started writing music that was more appeasing to the government. His fifth Symphony was a step towards being in favor wi ...