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Shostakovich

Almost? "Perfect Music"?! Bach Elgar Mascagni Schubert Shostakovich Very Special

Almost? “Perfect Music”?!

Posted on February 11, 2008

Great compositions sure to move the heart. But I’m a little reluctant to include them in the “Perfect Music” section! (*See Perfect Music on the right hand alphabetical panel*)

Cavalleria Rusticana – intermezzo by Pietro Mascagni

 

Shostakovich waltz from Jazz suite. Used in the movie “Eyes Wide Shut” with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

Shostakovich Waltz from Jazz Suite

 

And here is an absolutely delightful version by Andre Rieu.

Shostakovich Russian Waltz by Rieu

 

Bachs “Master and Commander”

Bach cello suite 1 bwv 1007

 

From Elgar’s enigma variations, op. 36 Nimrod

 

Now here is Schubert for Jess! Schubert’s 8th Symphony second movement (see comments)

Schubert’s 8th Symphony second movement

I don't like this music Shostakovich

I don’t like this music

Posted on February 5, 2008

But that’s not what it was written for. To be “liked”! This came from the heart of Existential Despair. A man who had Joseph Stalin watching him, breathing down his neck. It was hit or miss whether Stalin decided to put a ‘hit’ out on poor miserable Shostakovich!

Shosta had to perform a constant balancing act between expressing would could not be expressed in the Soviet Police State of the times (opposition to the inhumanity, and killings of millions) … and what he could get away with in his music. The Eight Symphony – here’s the  first movement – proved too much for Stalin and led to his music being banned. A ban lifted some years later.

 

And another piece that doesn’t “appeal” to me much! (Symphony 10 second movement)