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From Dmitri Shostakovich's (1906-1975) ballet 'The Golden Age' of 1929.
After a period influenced by Prokofiev and Stravinsky (e.g. in his Symphony No. 1 of 1925), Shostakovich developed a hybrid of styles as exemplified in his opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (1934). Within a single work this frequently juxtaposed a wide variety of trends, such as the neo-classical style (showing the influence of Stravinsky) and
a form of post-romantic style (after Mahler). Shostakovich's unique approach to tonality involved the use of modal scales and some astringent neo-classical harmonies à la Hindemith and Prokofiev. His music frequently includes sharp contrasts and elements of the grotesque.[1]
Shostakovich rose to fame in the Soviet Union under the patronage of Leon Trotsky's chief of staff Mikhail Tukhachevsky, but later had a complex and difficult relationship with the Stalinist bureaucracy, suffering two official denunciations of his music, in 1936 and 1948, and the periodic banning of his work. At the same time, he received a number of accolades and state awards and served in the Supreme Soviet. Despite the official controversy, his works were popular and well received.
After a period influenced by Prokofiev and Stravinsky (e.g. in his Symphony No. 1 of 1925), Shostakovich developed a hybrid of styles as exemplified in his opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (1934). Within a single work this frequently juxtaposed a wide variety of trends, such as the neo-classical style (showing the influence of Stravinsky) and
a form of post-romantic style (after Mahler). Shostakovich's unique approach to tonality involved the use of modal scales and some astringent neo-classical harmonies à la Hindemith and Prokofiev. His music frequently includes sharp contrasts and elements of the grotesque.[1]
Shostakovich rose to fame in the Soviet Union under the patronage of Leon Trotsky's chief of staff Mikhail Tukhachevsky, but later had a complex and difficult relationship with the Stalinist bureaucracy, suffering two official denunciations of his music, in 1936 and 1948, and the periodic banning of his work. At the same time, he received a number of accolades and state awards and served in the Supreme Soviet. Despite the official controversy, his works were popular and well received.
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kristyjo
At first, the cacophony is dominant. Then, the forms and extended harmonies come through. It has the feel of a circus, with humor and familiarity hovering just above the surface of tension and anxiety. As always, I love your extended program notes, and the instrumentation is just very, very well realized.