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Shostakovich's Tenth

The listeners, engrossed, swim with the tide,

The echoing of terror in their ears.

The ‘Stalin’ scherzo shudders to a halt,

As fast as its great surge of sound begins.

It seems to fall and plunge down a ravine

And disappears, with one last act of will,

To ignominy and oblivion,

Inside the padlocked box of history.

All this took place in nineteen fifty-three:

The Coronation, Everest conquered,

The comfort zone of a tyrant’s passing.

Alas, history’s box will not stay closed;

Dictators have a way of coming back.

The music, like us, will never be safe.

 

 

 

◄ Timepieces

The President ►

Comments

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John Botterill

Thu 17th Mar 2022 22:35

Well, I'll be ding doing danged! Beethoven didn't write his own last Symphony?! 😂
But the kids I taught knew nothing. All thanks to me!!!!

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 17th Mar 2022 21:53

And thanks for the likes Greg, Holden and Rudyard.

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Stephen Gospage

Thu 17th Mar 2022 21:52

Thanks for the interesting comments, John and MC.

Sadly, John, we don't seem to have moved forward. History seems to repeat itself. Strangely, there may be some debate about Beethoven's last, as I read that his (previously non-existent) 10th Symphony was recreated by computer. So maybe those kids knew something. 😀

MC, Yes, I agree with you on the 5th. But Shostakovich as the 20th century's greatest composer? A decent shot, I think.

The attached performance by a youth orchestra is not perfect but I think it shows the energy of the piece (written just after Stalin's death) as well as its difficulty.

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M.C. Newberry

Thu 17th Mar 2022 15:17

A saying from many years ago (like certain other truths they do last) is that it isn't possible to reason with a person who lacks
reason. The subversive tone of this symphony also lasts and
gives hope when reason fails. (But I'll stick with his 5th - thanks.)

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John Botterill

Thu 17th Mar 2022 12:56

Fascinating. I love the description of the music and the haunting link to current events. Have we really moved very far forward? Fine poem Stephen.

I used to ask classes 'Who wrote Beethoven' s Last Symphony'?
The answer was never Beethoven! 😂

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