|
Musical Analysis:
13th symphony, op133, 1962
Used Yevgeny Yevtushenko's poems which pointed to egregious
social ills in Soviet Russia, from anti-Semitism, though the suppression
of humor, oppression of women, the climate of fear, and the dilemma of
maintaining integrity in an artistic career
Soviet government tried to suppress the performance and
it was delayed and they couldn't hold it back any longer. By December
18, 1962 it was performed to public acclaim.
Before the symphony starts, poems are read, then played
and sung
"babi yar" is the first poem. It is a requium
for the jews shot and killed in kiev at the beginning of the war.
"humour" is second poem, then "In the
shop", tells of Russian women trying to find food. Then next poem"Fears"
evokes fear of Stalinist times when everyone feared arrest or death.
The last poem "Career" affirms careers are
made by those who raise their voices and sacrifice themselves
"babi yar" definitely plays off the jews killed
in the holocaust
Shostakovich was trying to stir up sympathy and feelings
of remembrance for not only those killed in the war and holocaust, but
all Russians who suffered during these times.
Done in b flat minor
|
