Devyani – Week 9 – A War Beyond Words
Art has long been perceived as a means of expressing one’s identity and emotions. From photographs that expertly capture the joy of life to songs that portray the heartache of a breakup, art and creativity are our most ingrained methods of human connection. Yet history has also seen the oppression of art by authority in order to limit expression. After all, if art is what unites us, taking that bond away is a sure-fire way to isolate people and maintain control.
Dmitri Shostakovich, a Soviet-era Russian composer who debuted with his first symphony at the age of nineteen, seemed to be destined for world-wide success. But his life, like those of so many other composers and artists, would soon be overturned by the reign of Joseph Stalin. Artists during this period in the country's history were ordered by the government to propagate the idea of Soviet glory through their work, lest they be persecuted. But Shostakovich persevered even as he bent to Stalin’s will, obscuring his true feelings under gilded flattery.
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| Dmitri Shostakovich |
One of my favorite examples of this is Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D Minor. Throughout the first three movements (or parts), in between the grandiose motifs, there appear to be moments that do not belong. They instead seem to portray the perpetual oppression and fear that people have faced by the government’s hand. Again, conversely, Shostakovich returns in the finale to complete his job, evoking illustrious glory with march-like music.
Although it might have pleased Stalin at the premiere, closer inspection would warrant that the supposed pomp and splendor of the entire symphony was completely satirical irony. The composer himself described it as “‘the rejoicing [being] forced, created under threat.’”
Despite being repeatedly censored and repeatedly threatened with arrest (or worse), Shostakovich would continue to write music portraying the pain and tragedy of people subjected to tyranny, especially Jewish people, making them feel seen in their grief. In the words of music broadcaster Stephen Johnson, Shostakovich “‘reflected that horror back to those whom it had all but destroyed…giving form to their feelings’” and giving them a sense of belonging, even in the midst of war.
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| Pablo Picasso's Guernica, another example of art protesting against war |
Hi Devyani! To start off, I really loved the language you used in your blog! The phrases “perpetual oppression and fear,” “illustrious glory,” along with many others, make your blog really interesting and fun to read.
ReplyDeleteI find this topic that you chose very interesting. In my experience taking piano class, my piano teacher would always tell me to add more feeling and more passion into my music by imagining a scene in my head that fits with the music. I remember that I had a lot of difficulty with this at the time, always resorting to imagining a cherry blossom tree by a river when playing pieces from the romantic era.
However, I never knew that music had been used for this form of expression. Though I do remember playing Shostakovich pieces in my piano classes, I never knew the true backstory. Honestly, I find it quite inspiring that he is able to resist the government through music. It seems a lot more meaningful than the pieces I remember playing…
Thank you so much for sharing! I genuinely enjoyed your connection between music and power.
Hi Devyani, I love listening to classical music, but I never knew music could have so many layers and sides to it. Most classical songs often portray times of turmoil with louder, stronger beats, while romantic pieces are filled with light, breathy notes, showing their exhilarating feelings of love and care. Your blog is very captivating, from the short but educational historical context in the beginning to how his music shaped and developed through Stalin’s oppression. Shostakovich’s perseverance to create meaningful music despite the threats he faced demonstrates his love for music and the feelings that his music should evoke. Sometimes, living in this modern world has led me to forget some of the important rights that I should value, but your blog post reminded me that such freedoms did not always exist, and the many ways that people expressed themselves should always be remembered. I love the evocative word choice you use in your blog to describe the beauty of Shostakovich’s hidden meanings.
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