Dmitri's Dacha

[Karl Henning]

Regarding the commissions, as I recall from the Wilson book, one of the remarkable things about the 3rd is that it was NOT commissioned but written "on spec". In late 20s Russia it was still possible for a young Shostakovich to buy into the potential of communism for positive social change.

Thanks for reminding me to go back to sources! Meanwhile . . . his having written it "on spec" is a point which, of itself, does not indicate what the composer may or may not "buy into";  I seem to remember it being a matter of plying the network, so to say.  Need to scare up the Fay!

So, I finally re-consult the Fay viz. the Third.  A very interesting brace of pages to read, to be sure. Three take-aways right off:

1. Shostakovich indicated that it was intended to form the second part, or movement — after the Dedication to October — of a projected cycle of symphonic compositions dedicated to the revolutionary calendar.

2. Shostakovich submitted the Third as part of his graduate student requirements (hardly "on spec").

3. The instrumental part of the symphony was completed before the text was written.

And here, something of (practically purely) musical interest:

At the time he was composing his Third Symphony, Shostakovich confided in Shebalin that he was intrigued by the notion of a symphony in which not a single theme is repeated. It was a revealing confession. For all the surfeit of melodic material in this symphony, there is virtually no repetition of themes.

Even without an explicit program, Soviet listeners found the idiom of the First of May Symphony immediately accessible, its topical allusions less abstract than those of To October. The music relies on familiar inflections from the contemporary urban musical soundscape and public ritual, from mass and workers' songs and pioneer marches to te uplifting strains of brass instruments, oratorical flourishes, and massed choral perorations. Also readily apparent are the bonds with Shostakovich's music of the period for film, theater, and music hall. With only minor changes, he would soon appropriate the seven-measure coda of the First of May Symphony to serve double-duty as the coda to the finale of the music to the film Golden Mountains (as in the Suite, op. 30a).

From Shostakovich: A Life, pp. 52-53

Of course, the matter of first interest which strikes me is how decades later, this "musical game" which Shostakovich confesses to Shebalin (a fellow composer, pedagogue & administrator, who would teach at, and yet later serve as director of, the Conservatory in Moscow) might be bandied about as a morbid, self-centered, Formalist, anti-People tendency . . . and yet, the musical result was popularly accessible.

[Brahmsian]

December 10, 2012 to February 17, 2013

I have now completed my Shostakovich string quartets and symphonies listening binge!  A thrilling, incredible ride! 

Finishing off with my favourite recording of my favourite Shostakovich symphony:

Symphony No. 10

Petrenko/RLPO
Naxos

[Karl Henning]

Outstanding, Ray!

[Karl Henning]

The unexpected bonus from the Caetani recording of the Op.43 is a fragment, five and a half minutes long, towards the end of which there appears an earlier version of the trombone unison passage in the third movement (in curious timing, referred to here).  [The notes to the CD are a little over-wrought.]

[PaulR]

I was reading a negative review of the Rostropovich/LSO Eleventh Symphony CD and here was a discussion about slower tempos vs faster ones.  For my money, I love the tempo that Rostropovich takes in the first movement.  Some slow tempos at times seem to drag on, but I thought it was spot on and did a great job at capturing the mood better than a faster tempo would go..

Would love to hear other thoughts.

[Fafner]

I started my Russian (and Soviet) Symphony March Madness with another Shostakovich (thus keeping the January thing alive...)

Ančerl's 1 & 5 is a great recording,  the interpretation a little bit on the light side. The sound is amazing, considering these are recordings from the early 60's.

I suppose I could join Shostakovich January, WTH February and Russian March into one big challenge and finally listen to No. 14 properly. It is my least favourite of all Shostakovich's symphonies (well, after 2 & 3). (And it is not really a symphony anyway, but rather a song cycle.

[Karl Henning]

Not sure how I might help, but FWIW I've always liked the Fourteenth. Sure, it's really a song cycle, and the accompaniment is only strings & percussion, but . . . .

; )

[TheGSMoeller]

I'll add another vote to No.14, devastatingly moody, but completely unique, a real one-of-a-kind from DSCH. 

[North Star]

I'll add another vote to No.14, devastatingly moody, but completely unique, a real one-of-a-kind from DSCH.

+1
A great piece, whatever the name.

[Karl Henning]

Excellent liner notes to the Pacifica Quartet Shostakovich-plus volumes, BTW. (Though I did note an it's where its was wanted . . . the grammar geek in me won't quit . . . .)

[Brahmsian]

Excellent liner notes to the Pacifica Quartet Shostakovich-plus volumes, BTW. (Though I did note an it's where its was wanted . . . the grammar geek in me won't quit . . . .)

How many DSCH SQ sets does that make, now Karl?    4?

[Karl Henning]

Well, the Pacifica is still a set-in-progress, Ray . . . and I've yet to listen to the two volumes which landed yesterday : )

[Karl Henning]

Oh, and I didn't answer the question ; )

. . . when the Pacifica set is complete, it will be my fifth, following the Borodins, Emersons, Fitzwilliams & Mandelrings.

[Brahmsian]

Oh, and I didn't answer the question ; )

. . . when the Pacifica set is complete, it will be my fifth, following the Borodins, Emersons, Fitzwilliams & Mandelrings.

Tres bien, Karl! 

[Karl Henning]

Aye, a fine crop, if I do say so, myself.

[Karl Henning]

Hear, hear, Anton'!

[kishnevi]

Oh, and I didn't answer the question ; )

. . . when the Pacifica set is complete, it will be my fifth, following the Borodins, Emersons, Fitzwilliams & Mandelrings.

Almost the same as mine, except I also have the Shostakovich Quartet (which, on reflection, is not necessary for anyone who has the others--but if I were to cull any (which I don't intend to) it would be the Fitzwilliams that would go, as the set that impressed me least).


BTW, Ray, if you posted the news, I missed it--did your set of the Borodins (La Vache & Vader) ever actually arrive?

[Brahmsian]

Almost the same as mine, except I also have the Shostakovich Quartet (which, on reflection, is not necessary for anyone who has the others--but if I were to cull any (which I don't intend to) it would be the Fitzwilliams that would go, as the set that impressed me least).


BTW, Ray, if you posted the news, I missed it--did your set of the Borodins (La Vache & Vader) ever actually arrive?

Hi Jeffrey,

Alas, it never did arrive. However, I reordered it from Amazon 3rd party marketplace.  La vache sacree devrait etre dans mes mains par le debut d'avril! 

[kishnevi]

Hi Jeffrey,

Alas, it never did arrive. However, I reordered it from Amazon 3rd party marketplace.  La vache sacree devrait etre dans mes mains par le debut d'avril!

Then I foresee April being Russian Chamber Music Madness Month.....

[huntsman]

Could anyone recommend an album or box set from Shostakovitch to me please?

I'd hoped that this thread would give clarity, but I'm more confused than ever...!

If possible I would prefer to avoid piano concertos.