Shostakovich: Essential Works for Beginners

Shostakovich: Essential Works for Beginners

Symphony No. 5
Violin Concerto No. 1
Piano Trio No. 2
Suite for Variety Orchestra (Jazz Suite No. 2)
String Quartet No. 8
Symphony No. 10
Symphony No. 13 “Babi Yar”

[stephenwu]

The Babi Yar symphony is absolutely fabulous, one of the only pieces that struck me even on the first listen and it's still one of my favorite works ever written. What a horrifying first movement.

[krozjr]

As a total beginner’s guide, I broadly agree with this list. There’s only one piece I’d add, in fact — his Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor (also known as the Concerto for Piano and Trumpet). It scratches two itches both of which are represented in your list but that it is such a good example of that I couldn’t not mention.

Firstly, it’s an example of how he could write music that isn’t intense or emotional or dramatic but is light and *just plain fun*. I love the mood of this concerto, from the gentle jazz-y harmonies of the second movement ripped from his ballet “The Golden Age” (which always makes me think of cigar-smoke-filled 1920s Speakeasies and the like) to the galloping second movement with its round-and-round-again melody right at the end that feels like it could never stop and so leaves itself stuck on a loop in your mind for a minute afterwards. It’s nothing difficult to penetrate, but it’s fun and lighthearted and will be stuck in your head for a while afterwards and is something worth remembering that Shostakovich could do.

Secondly, it’s a showcase of his love for the piano. Shostakovich was a pianist in addition to a composer (indeed, you can hear his time working as the accompaniment to silent films shine though in the music of this concerto) and some of his best stuff is for the piano (Trio 2, Quintet, both concerti, the 24 Preludes and Fugues, etc.) There’s a recording of Shostakovich himself playing this concerto, and although the quality is so-so and the composer himself is playing fast and loose with his own tempo markings, you can hear in the music how much he loves playing this instrument and how much he understands it at a deep and fundamental level.

[morrigambist]

I enjoy most of your videos, but I feel you have outdone yourself with this series in general, and this episode in particular. You went straight to the heart of Shostakovich, and that is a rare achievement. Thanks so much for what you do!

[dmntuba]

Shostakovich was such an unbelievable musical talent.
My first introduction to his music was the Music for variety/jazz band orchestra. It's tunes, rhythm, harmonies, and fun just drew me in...couldn't believe it was classical music, but I was hooked.
My next exposure was Festival overture (Boston Pops TV broadcast with their assistant conductor- this was during a time Fiedler was sick and out for a month) and it was more cool, rhythmic, and LOUD!
But when I heard his 5th symphony (my 1st Shostakovich symphony) I was blown out of my seat, speechless, confused & enlightened all at the same time. That was the true beginning of my love affair with the music of Shostakovich (that recording as I remember was an Ormandy one)
I was so hypnotized by the music, and lucky for me one of the music professors at our small liberal arts College (bless you Mrs. Virginia Smith) was good friends with my parents and I approached her about the music and she let me barrow an LP of "The Bernstein NYPHIL " recording for 2 weeks and that was I never turned back 👍
Fortunately for me during my professional career I got to perform the symphonies 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12(which I actually like) Festival Ovt. Band transcription of last mvt. Of 5th, scherzo of 10th, and Festival overture...Good Times 👍
Thank you Mrs. Smith 😘

[Bobbnoxious]

The Piano Trio No. 2 is my absolute favorite Shostakovich chamber work. He dedicated it to the memory of his best friend, musicologist Ivan Sollertinsky, who died during WWII. In doing so Shostakovich carried on a tradition amongst Russian composers (starting with Tchaikovsky) of writing piano trios as memorials. So of course it's intensely personal and heartfelt.

[fred]

Hello everybody!
Please consider watching Mr Hurwitz's
excellent talks on all 15 symphonies of Mr Shostakovich.
Best wishes Fred .

[MikeRusso]

Dave, you smashed it with this list - nothing to add, subtract, or append. I appreciate your inclusion of the Suite for Variety Orchestra.

[johnminster]

Great Commentary on the music and life of Shostakovich.

[EricGross]

In complete honesty, I tend to want to find problems in your approach to classical music and its many recordings, but I find myself agreeing enthusiastically with most of the material you present. But this 'Beginner's Guide' to Shostakovich is really beautiful and even touching. You have such a feel for his music. Your use of the term "compassion" describing the central, consistent element in his music is stop on perfect.

[Nyssa]

Mr Hurwitz’s Unlocking The Masters Book on Shostakovich has been extremely helpful in my understanding of his works.

[richardcaffyn]

Great list & impresed to see Babi Yar included. I feel the piano concerto no. 2 is a colourful, popular work that appeals to many

[cappycapuzi]

Shostakovich's music is among the most subjective I am familiar with.

[paullewis]

Strangely, I tended to sideline Shostakovich when I was discovering the great composers. My attention was focused on his works after I happened to hear a live performance of the 6th symphony and I was amazed at how good it was. Needless to say from that day on I explored all the symphonies and realised, though uneven as they are, contained in these 15 are absolute gems of the 20th c.

[michaelmurray]

Another great video in another great series. I find you’re enthusiasm and depth of knowledge uttery infectious and can’t thank you enough for the many hours of informative and entertaining videos.

[PeteR-jpix]

A HUGE thank you Dave! For decades I've dipped my toe into the music of Shostakovich (so to speak) now and then and I've never been moved by his music . I thought I'd try again and knew who to turn to for advice. I paused this video after the first recommendation (5th Symphony) then cheated by checking the 'however' recommendation from your Best 5th Symphony video - Kurt Sanderling. I streamed that from Qobuz last night on my very good hi-fi and I was almost moved to tears - WOW what wonderful music and a fabulous recording to boot! So tonight it'll be the Violin concerto after seeking your advice. It seems all I needed was an expert guide to his music - thanks a million!

[AlexMadorsky]

A flawless list. I probably started with something similar, although it took me far longer to hear the Babi Yar than it should have. One could easily argue it’s the best thing DSCH did.

[johnmarchington]

What a great selection, David. I loved it. Dimitri Shostakovich was surely one of the greatest composers who has ever lived. I adore his music. However, I cannot listen to the fifth symphony when the coda to the finale is drawn out. Our local orchestra played it that way some years ago and it really upset me. That's why I love the Bernstein recordings so much. As far as the tenth symphony is concerned, he surely never composed a finer symphonic first movement. In a good performance, it can be overwhelming. I also love the Babiy Yar symphony. It's both glorious and gut-wrenching at the same time.

[mhc]

Dave, you don’’t need to worry about what other people write in or pile on, we’re really only listening to you anyway. 😉

[Warp]

The darker & the moodier Shostakovich is the more I like him.

[falesch]

I've often reflected on how much David's presentation, while eschewing playing sample clips, uses verbal pictures to light a spark in the ears of listeners who've yet to confront a given composer's work. One might ask that when the subject is music, wouldn't it be optimal to hear examples? Further, aren't audio clips essential?

The alluring pictures that David paints through certain perfectly relevant biographical facts like the drastic shifts in the context of Shostakovitch's personal life and his colorful characterization of the music itself leads me to answer:

No, David's got it just right. Hearing the music would, in many cases, not instill a lasting anticipation on behalf of the uninitiated listener. Hearing a clip could too easily quash this anticipation (i.e., backfire!...case closed), but an ingratiating verbal picture can overcome this frustration of a facile dismissal and I know of no one else in the popular media who does it this well.