Dmitri Shostakovich and World War II: The “Leningrad” Symphony and “Babii Yar”

Shostakovich was born in St Shostakovich was born in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) on September 25, 1906, and died in Moscow on August 9, 1975. He is one of the most famous composers of the twentieth century.

Symphony No. 7 “Leningrad”

On June 22, 1941, the Nazis invaded Russia On June 22, 1941, the Nazis invaded Russia. At the time, Shostakovich was studying piano at the Conservatory. Soon after the invasion, he began composing his Seventh Symphony, also called the “Leningrad” Symphony. This symphony became emblematic of his resistance to the siege of his birthplace.

The Leningrad Symphony was first performed in Kuybishev on March 5, 1942. On the day that Hitler decreed the fall of Leningrad, the city brought together its musicians to play Shostakovich’s symphony, which was then broadcast to the German troops by way of defiance. “…the Seventh Symphony commemorated the sufferings of the population of Leningrad…”

“The Seventh Symphony uses the major/minor opposition both structurally and emblematically. - the initial C major seems to symbolize the heroism of the Russian people. - 15 minutes later, this theme is recapitulated in the tonic minor, as a kind of requiem, after the notorious prolonged ‘Invasion’ episode…that substitutes for the development section. - The finale works its way from C minor back to a C major of terrifying balanced tensions, conveying inner resistance all the more powerfully for leaving the political colours of the oppressive force to the imagination.”

Symphony No. 13 “Babii Yar”

Dmitri Shostakovich-13th symphony -Created in Leningrad on December 18th 1962 -Shostakovich set the poetry of Yevgeny Yevtushenko to symphonic music for bass soloists, male chorus, and a large orchestra -The 13th symphony portrayed Yevtushenko’s horrors of the huge massacre of Jews by the Nazi’s during the occupation of Kiev -The piece brought to life the extreme Anti-Semitism in Soviet Russia

13th symphony’s effect Met criticisms by the chairmen of Communist party, Nikita Krushchev, who complained about the extensive amount of attention Yevtushenkov’s poem gave to the massacre of Jews and his failure to mention the killings of Ukrainians and other nationals. The 13th symphony was also confronted with the same criticisms and never got much acceptance.

Themes of the 13th Symphony Depicted the killings of the Jewish population during the WWII War Revolution Prejudice Racism

Meaning of 13th Symphony -Used the power of music, musicians, and men’s chorus to portray the horrors and terrors of the monstrous Nazi party. -Used music to personify the struggles and sufferings of the Jewish man.

Sadie, Stanley, ed. “Shostakovich Sadie, Stanley, ed. “Shostakovich.” The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. 23, 2001. Pgs. 279-301.