Shostakovich Symphony no 9

[BasilValentine]

In the Soviet scheme of things Shostakovich was an employee of the state, just like a worker in a ball bearing factory. Producing something other than what was expected was a political act.

Not a good analogy. The vaguely expressed expectations of union hacks, critics and politicians don't have the objectivity of industrial specs and tolerances. Nor was there commonly unanimity of opinion about when these vague expectations were met except in the rare case of a specific verdict coming from above. After the premiere of the Fifth, for example, opinion was divided about its acceptability and political correctness even among party critics in good standing. 

[BasilValentine]

Interested enough to purchase a copy of "Surprised by Beauty"? 

Ah, heck, here it is:

Interesting commentary on the 15th. There is another less loaded interpretation of the William Tell quotation. Shostakovich could have been poking fun at his own stylistic tic of overusing anapestic rhythms. I'm sure he was aware of it and had he not been aware of it, someone would surely have pointed it out. "Dmitri, everything you write sounds like the ..."