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)
Jim's Classical Music » Shostakovich Synchronicity
January 7, 2012 at 4:09 am[…] http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/2008/02/05/i-dont-like-this-music/ […]
Jim
April 8, 2008 at 4:24 amLove is the Remedy (same as antidote really!)
I even have a tattoo to prove it!
Thanks for your stimulating comment Ben!
Jim
Ben Leet
April 8, 2008 at 4:01 amReminded me of man being swept under a giant ocean wave, dragged on the ocean floor, swallowing water, drowning. “Sublimate hell” occurred to me. That means take this suffering, show it, transform it, put it into sound. That rolling wave he achieves is really something. I have read a book by Hienrich Boll, German writer, called Mad Dog. Same hell. Also one by Rainer Maria Rilke, author of All Quiet on Eastern Front, but his last one was about WW2. Same hell. Thanks, Jim. What’s the antidote?