Meet a Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich

  Meet a Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich

Dmitri Shostakovich

Years Lived: 1906-1975

Period: Modern

Country: Soviet Union 

 

This Saturday, March 13th at 7:30pm, The Columbia Orchestra will stream a free concert including Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony in C minor on the Orchestra's YouTube channel. In anticipation of the concert, here is a some information about Shostakovich. The concert will also feature Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. 

Dmirti Shostakovich is regarded as one of the 20th century's most important composers and is most famous for his 15 symphonies. He studied piano and attended conservatory at the age of 13. After graduating when he was 19, he worked as a pianist and composer (both equally important to him in his career). 

The United States premiere of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1 was under the baton of famous conductor Leopold Stokowski. Stokowski also conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra for the first recording of the symphony. After this great achievement, Shostakovich gave up his somewhat disappointing (to him) career as a concert pianist and focused on composing. 

Politics in the Soviet Union were complicated during Shostakovich's composing career. The dictator, Joseph Stalin did not like Shostakovich's works, calling them too harsh and dissonant. The paper, Pravda, wrote scathing reviews about Shostakovich's work due to Stalin's impressions of it. Because of this, Shostakovich's music fell out of fashion by his fourth symphony and the composer feared for his life and the life of his family. 

To avoid criticism by Joseph Stalin, Shostakovich composed his fifth symphony based on "typical" classical styles. He continued to compose this way until Stalin's death, after which he returned to composing in his own style for his 10th-15th symphonies.

In addition to his symphonies, Shostakovich wrote violin concertos, piano concertos, orchestral suites, string quartets, piano pieces, operas, film scores, and other works—a lifetime total of more than 175 compositions! 

Did You Know?

Shostakovich accompanied silent films on the piano to earn money for his family after his father died.

 

He was also a big fan of football (soccer) and even wrote a "football ballet" called The Golden Age. 

Shostakovich wrote his Symphony No. 1 as his graduation piece from conservatory. 

 

Classics for Kids includes this short biography of Shostakovich on their website.   

 

For a longer biography, including pictures, check out this article from Kiddle.

Can you clap along to this waltz by Shostakovich on this YouTube video by

Santi Serratosa López?

Some people think Shostakovich and Harry Potter look alike! What do you think? Check out this youtube video by MusicOnline UK to decide for yourself!