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'''Dmitri Shostakovich''' (1906-1975) was a [[Russia]]n [[atheist]] [[composer]] who worked in many different styles and forms.  While he is primarily known for his symphonies and string quartets, he also composed several operas, orchestral suites, concertos, and much piano music. Along with that of [[Sergei Prokofiev]], Shostakovich's music is almost universally considered by critics and listeners to be among the most compelling to come out of the stifling creative atmosphere of the [[Soviet Union]].

'''Dmitri Shostakovich''' (1906-1975) was a [[Soviet Union|Russian]] [[composer]] and [[piano|pianist]] who worked in many different styles and forms.  While he is primarily known for his [[symphony|symphonies]] and string quartets, he also composed several [[opera]]s, orchestral [[suite]]s, [[concerto]]s, and much piano music. Along with that of [[Sergei Prokofiev]], Shostakovich's music is almost universally considered by critics and listeners to be among the most compelling to come out of the stifling creative atmosphere of the [[Soviet Union]].

Shostakovich's compositional legacy is complicated by the demands of the repressive political environment in which he lived. He was required to occasionally write obsequious and banal works which satisfied the doctrines of Socialist Realism.<ref>MacDonald, Ian. ''The New Shostakovich,'' 1988</ref> Additionally, in the USSR, every new work had to be vetted by a committee of members from the [[Communist Party]]'s Composer's Union, which tried to ensure that no ideological rules were being broken.<ref>Fay, Laurel. ''Shostakovich: A Life,'' 2000.</ref> For reasons that perhaps will never be understood (and apparently against his will<ref>Wilson, Elizabeth. ''Shostakovich: A Life Remembered,'' 1995</ref>), Shostakovich also joined the Communist Party himself in 1960.

Shostakovich's compositional legacy is complicated by the demands of the repressive political environment in which he lived. He was required to occasionally write obsequious and banal works which satisfied the doctrines of Socialist Realism.<ref>MacDonald, Ian. ''The New Shostakovich,'' 1988</ref> Additionally, in the USSR, every new work had to be vetted by a committee of members from the [[Communist Party]]'s Composer's Union, which tried to ensure that no ideological rules were being broken.<ref>Fay, Laurel. ''Shostakovich: A Life,'' 2000.</ref> For reasons that perhaps will never be understood (and apparently against his will<ref>Wilson, Elizabeth. ''Shostakovich: A Life Remembered,'' 1995</ref>), Shostakovich also joined the Communist Party himself in 1960.

==Wartime years==

==Wartime years==

During the siege of [[Leningrad]], Shostakovich lived in the city and wrote his seventh symphony in C major (subtitled "Leningrad").  The work is notable for an extended march section in the first movement, building up an intentionally banal tune in a manner reminiscent of Ravel's "Bolero".  The symphony was premiered in Leningrad in 1942, and flown out of Russia in microfilm score, and was premiered in the USA under the baton of Toscanini very shortly afterwards.  The symphony, which ends with a triumphant conclusion, described by the composer as "victory - a beautiful life in the future" , was a significant propaganda coup.

During the siege of [[Leningrad]], Shostakovich lived in the city and wrote his Seventh Symphony in C major (subtitled "Leningrad").  The work is notable for an extended march section in the first movement, building up an intentionally banal tune in a manner reminiscent of Ravel's "Bolero".  The symphony was premiered in Leningrad in 1942, and flown out of Russia in microfilm score, and was premiered in the USA under the baton of Toscanini very shortly afterwards.  The symphony, which ends with a triumphant conclusion, described by the composer as "victory - a beautiful life in the future" , was a significant propaganda coup.

However, the composer's next two symphonies were not well received by the authorities - the Eighth symphony in C minor also depicted the war, and ended in a pessimistic, exhausted fashion.  The Ninth symphony was completed just after the war.  The authorities expected a massive paean of triumph at the end of the war, on the scale of Beethoven's Ninth symphony.  What Shostakovich delivered was a small scale, lightweight work with considerable humor and irony.  This led to the composer being severely criticised as "formalist" in the notorious "Zhdanov decree" of 1948.

However, the composer's next two symphonies were not well received by the authorities - the Eighth symphony in C minor also depicted the war, and ended in a pessimistic, exhausted fashion.  The Ninth symphony was completed just after the war.  The authorities expected a massive paean of triumph at the end of the war, on the scale of Beethoven's Ninth symphony.  What Shostakovich delivered was a small scale, lightweight work with considerable humor and irony.  This led to the composer being severely criticised as "formalist" in the notorious "Zhdanov decree" of 1948.