Dimitri Shostakovich: Difference between revisions
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'''Dimitri Shostakovich''' (born St. Petersburg, 1906, died Moscow, 1975), also spelt Dmitri Shostakovich, was a Russian composer. Though he is now honoured as one of the best Russian composers of his time, during his lifetime the Communist government criticized his work which many consider to have stifled his creative talents. | '''Dimitri Shostakovich''' (born St. Petersburg, 1906, died Moscow, 1975), also spelt Dmitri Shostakovich, was a Russian composer. Though he is now honoured as one of the best Russian composers of his time, during his lifetime the Communist government criticized his work which many consider to have stifled his creative talents. | ||
==Life== | |||
Shostakovich was born in St. Petersburg in 1906. He studied at the Petrograd Conservatory during his teenage years, whence he graduated upon completion of his first symphony, which brought him to international attention. He then wrote his two operas and some more symphonies. During WWII he was evacuated with his family but soon moved to Moscow, where he taught music, though after some controversial works all of his compositions were banned. He then composed some film scores simply to make ends meet and was publicly forced to repent. In 1960 he joined the Communist party. From then on illnesses plagued him; a debilitating condition forced him to stop playing the piano, in 1965 he was diagnosed with polio and he died in 1975 from lung cancer in Moscow. Nevertheless, his legacy remains and his works are still played today. | |||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
His best known works are his fifteen symphonies. The seventh is especially notable - it is known as the '[[Leningrad]]' symphony as it was composed partly in Leningrad (now known as [[St. Petersburg]]) during the famous 900-day siege of [[World War Two]]. These contain a heavy patriotic theme. Other works include concertos for a variety of musical instruments and a major set of pieces for the string quartet, though his preferred instrument was the piano, which he composed a large amount of music for. He wrote the | His best known works are his fifteen symphonies. The seventh is especially notable - it is known as the '[[Leningrad]]' symphony as it was composed partly in Leningrad (now known as [[St. Petersburg]]) during the famous 900-day siege of [[World War Two]]. These contain a heavy patriotic theme. Other works include concertos for a variety of musical instruments and a major set of pieces for the string quartet, though his preferred instrument was the piano, which he composed a large amount of music for. He wrote ballets, songs and scores for films in an attempt to stop his works from being banned. He wrote the operas Katerina Ismailova and The Nose also.<ref>Alan Blackwood, 1983, New Encyclopedia of Music, Ward Lock Limited</ref> | ||
==Relationship with the Communist government== | ==Relationship with the Communist government== | ||
The communist government of the [[Soviet Union]] overthrew the tsardom in 1917, when Shostakovich was still a young boy.<ref>Norman Davies, 1996, Europe: A History, OUP</ref> When he started composing it had become very powerful already and his works were made to conform with the regime. This is illustrated by the political themes of his symphonies. His aforementioned opera, Katerina Ismailova, was originally called Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District though the name was changed to get him out of political trouble. | The communist government of the [[Soviet Union]] overthrew the tsardom in 1917, when Shostakovich was still a young boy.<ref>Norman Davies, 1996, Europe: A History, OUP</ref> When he started composing it had become very powerful already and his works were made to conform with the regime. This is illustrated by the political themes of his symphonies. His aforementioned opera, Katerina Ismailova, was originally called Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District though the name was changed to get him out of political trouble. In 1948 he was forced to publicly repent, though the restrictions on music were relaxed in the mid-1950s. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 08:12, 18 February 2012
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Dimitri Shostakovich (born St. Petersburg, 1906, died Moscow, 1975), also spelt Dmitri Shostakovich, was a Russian composer. Though he is now honoured as one of the best Russian composers of his time, during his lifetime the Communist government criticized his work which many consider to have stifled his creative talents.
Life
Shostakovich was born in St. Petersburg in 1906. He studied at the Petrograd Conservatory during his teenage years, whence he graduated upon completion of his first symphony, which brought him to international attention. He then wrote his two operas and some more symphonies. During WWII he was evacuated with his family but soon moved to Moscow, where he taught music, though after some controversial works all of his compositions were banned. He then composed some film scores simply to make ends meet and was publicly forced to repent. In 1960 he joined the Communist party. From then on illnesses plagued him; a debilitating condition forced him to stop playing the piano, in 1965 he was diagnosed with polio and he died in 1975 from lung cancer in Moscow. Nevertheless, his legacy remains and his works are still played today.
Works
His best known works are his fifteen symphonies. The seventh is especially notable - it is known as the 'Leningrad' symphony as it was composed partly in Leningrad (now known as St. Petersburg) during the famous 900-day siege of World War Two. These contain a heavy patriotic theme. Other works include concertos for a variety of musical instruments and a major set of pieces for the string quartet, though his preferred instrument was the piano, which he composed a large amount of music for. He wrote ballets, songs and scores for films in an attempt to stop his works from being banned. He wrote the operas Katerina Ismailova and The Nose also.[1]
Relationship with the Communist government
The communist government of the Soviet Union overthrew the tsardom in 1917, when Shostakovich was still a young boy.[2] When he started composing it had become very powerful already and his works were made to conform with the regime. This is illustrated by the political themes of his symphonies. His aforementioned opera, Katerina Ismailova, was originally called Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District though the name was changed to get him out of political trouble. In 1948 he was forced to publicly repent, though the restrictions on music were relaxed in the mid-1950s.