Shostakovich

Name: Shostakovich
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SKU: 9781913368432
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A Coded Life in Music

By Brian Morton

Summary

In Shostakovich by Brian Morton, the life of composer Dmitri Shostakovich is examined through a blend of historical context and personal insights. The book delves into his achievements and struggles amidst the turbulent backdrop of Soviet Russia, offering a nuanced portrait of his musical genius and the societal pressures he faced. Morton's narrative captures the complexity of Shostakovich's legacy as both an artist and a man.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this biography if you have a keen interest in the life and legacy of one of the 20th century's most significant composers. This book sheds light on his complex personality, the tensions between his creative world and the Soviet regime, and provides a nuanced exploration of his music within the political context of his time.

Shostakovich

A unique study of the great composer Dmitri Shostakovich which is an appraisal of both the composer and his music, and the tumultuous and dangerous years of the Russian century through which he lived.

Description

A biography of popular twentieth-century Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

Internationally esteemed, Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich is widely considered to have been the last great classical symphonist, and his reputation has continued to increase since his death in 1975.

Shostakovich wrote his First Symphony at the age of nineteen, then he soon embarked on a dual career as a concert pianist and composer. His early avant-gardism resulted in the triumph of his 1934 opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Though at first highly praised by Stalin, Shostakovich would later suffer from a complex and brutalizing relationship with the Soviet dictator and the governments that followed him.

Despite this persecution, his Seventh Symphony was embraced as a potent symbol of Russian resistance to the invading Nazi army in both the USSR and the West. Though his later years were marked by ill health, his rate of composition remained prolific. His music became increasingly beloved as he established himself as the most popular composer of serious music in the middle of the twentieth century.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Shostakovich by Brian Morton is praised for being a model biographical piece that delves deeply into the life and work of the composer Dmitri Shostakovich. The book is highlighted for its insightful and sympathetic examination of Shostakovich's creative output, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of his significant contributions.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781913368432

Publisher: Haus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 20 December 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Haus Publishing

Edition: New edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 0g

Pages: 220

Collections

Arts & Culture Biography & Memoir Brian Morton Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction

About the Author

Brian Morton was the literary editor of Times Higher Education and a regular contributor to The Times. More recently, he has written comment pieces for the Observer (Scotland) and The Scotsman. His Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (co-written with Richard Cook) is the essential reference work on recorded jazz. He lives in a former monastery in Kintyre in western Scotland.