
Until the publication of "Testimony", the memoirs he dictated to journalist Solomon Volkov, few doubted that Dmitri Shostakovich was a son of the Russian Revolution, whose music celebrated its triumphs, and who devoted his life to the ideals of socialist humanism and internationalism. This biography of Shostakovich repudiates reservations about the precise nature of Volkov's book, to reveal a "new Shostakovich" - a man who had no sympathy with Communism and was forced to build subtle or coded communication into his music to defy the artistic conventions of the Stalinist state. In addition to presenting this new view of the composer, the book also encourages a reappraisal of his music in the light of its new-found meaning and the manner of its creation.
This biography investigates the true political alignment and artistic motivations of composer Dmitri Shostakovich, challenging the long-standing perception of him as a loyal Soviet artist. Ian D. MacDonald, a music critic and historian, utilizes the controversial memoirs published by Solomon Volkov as a primary catalyst to re-examine the composer's life. He argues that Shostakovich was a covert dissident who embedded coded messages of defiance against the Stalinist regime within his musical compositions.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Musicologists and historians frequently cite this work as a pivotal text that shifted the academic understanding of Shostakovich's creative intent. Readers often note the dense, analytical nature of the prose, which requires a foundational knowledge of 20th-century Russian history and classical music theory.
Page Count:
351
Publication Date:
1991-08-08
ISBN-10:
0192840266
ISBN-13:
9780192840264
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