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Originally Posted by imperiouskitten
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there are definitely incongruences and bits that feel too much liek parody in shostakovich. I have wondered if these are explainable perhaps in that he was subject to time and editorial pressures from the communist party and Stalin himself, his creative devices subordinated to the need for national propaganda, and knew he existed at the whim of dullards and chance whatever his talent. I know he was subject to many episodes of censorship, for real or perceived taboo ethnic musical references, and ive heard he would sneak some subversive stuff in but that is over my head for now. I think those bits of disorienting clumsiness might be in reference to the foolishness around and above him tho. Just sounds too much like it to me. Hope I can gain the encyclopedic knowledge required to confirm the meaning of these possible witticisms 1 day.
As for the pacing, you might be right to call out good old obvious Lenny. teh consummate showman. but this one got me wet.
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I had similar thoughts but didn't really feel like coming out and saying it. I think every artist struggles against their audience.
The war was just ending or still going even? And the state was ramping up for some serious control and even competition with the west. Repurposing a military apparatus designed to fight to the death and canabilise everything? This particular symphony wasn't even during the cold War, but just prior. I forgot when communism really took root and became really autocratic but it was survival and total warfare with the Axis during the years that inspired this symphony. It was about winning at any cost or everything Russian would have been lost completely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexii
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Cool. We should keep this thread going. I'll give this a listen as well.