Overview
Few composers' posthumous reputations have grown as steadily as Shostakovich's. Yet outside the concert hall the focus of attention seems to have been on the extraordinary circumstances of his life rather than on the music itself. This book seeks to show that the power of his work stems as much from its craftsmanship as from its political and personal context. The theoretical chapters lay the foundation for a proper understanding of Shostakovich's musical language for the first time in the West. The social context is not neglected, however, and alongside many new insights spread through the book, a substantial and provocative chapter considers the issues surrounding the composition of the Fifth Symphony. The 11 essays in the volume draw together scholars of Russian music in Europe, Russia and America.
- | Author: David Fanning
- | Publisher: Cambridge University Press
- | Publication Date: Nov 09, 1995
- | Number of Pages: 292 pages
- | Binding: Hardback or Cased Book
- | ISBN-10: 0521452392
- | ISBN-13: 9780521452397
