Page 278 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

276 MUSIC IN THE SOVIET ERA

IN CONTEXT
FOCUS
Music in the Soviet era
BEFORE
1923 The Russian Association
of Proletarian Musicians
(RAPM) is founded, decrying
modernism in music and
claiming that all music should
be understood by workers.
1929 A concert performance of
Shostakovich’s opera The Nose
is attacked by the RAPM.

1935 Ivan Dzerzhinsky writes
the opera Tikhly Don (Quiet
Flows the Don), which, with its
patriotic theme and simple
melodies, becomes the model
of socialist-realist music.
omposers in the Soviet A poster dated 1920 urges workers
AFTER Union worked under severe to “Join the Communist Party!” and
1937 Sergei Prokofiev C restrictions during the reject the aristocracy, bourgeoisie, and
withdraws his Cantata for 1930s. They, like all artists, were Orthodox Church. Russian composers
the 20th Anniversary of the expected to serve the people, in had little choice but to do the same.
October Revolution after terms defined by the communist
criticism from the authorities. state, or face punishment. The anniversary of Vladimir Lenin’s
1939 Prokofiev composes country’s leader, Joseph Stalin, death. But Shostakovich’s situation
Zdravitsa (“Hail to Stalin”) as liked patriotic songs and pieces changed on January 26, 1936,
part of the celebrations of with simple, appealing tunes and when Stalin went to see his opera
Stalin’s 60th birthday. conventional harmonies. Music that Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the
did not fit this pattern, especially Bolshoi Theatre. The work had
1948 Soviet Central music that was introspective, premiered two years earlier and
Committee secretary Andrei complex, or difficult to grasp at first been an immense success at home
Zhdanov begins a campaign hearing, was dubbed “formalist,” and abroad. Stalin, though, took
against “formalist” music in and its composers were forced into exception to it and left before the
which the form of the work is menial jobs, imprisoned, or worse. final scene. Two days later, an
more important than anything article in the state newspaper
it has to say. Walking a tightrope Pravda, headed “Muddle instead of
Dmitri Shostakovich survived these music,” denounced the opera. The
1974 Alfred Schnittke’s strictures until the mid-1930s. The anonymous article condemned the
Symphony No. 1, embodying authorities were pleased by works musical style of the piece, in which,
his “polystylism” form of such as his Symphony No. 2, it alleged, “singing is replaced by
composition, is premiered in written to commemorate the tenth shrieking,” and objected especially
Gorky after being turned away anniversary of the October 1917 to the lewd “quacks” and “hoots”
from Moscow. revolution, and Symphony No. 3, from the brass during the opera’s
subtitled “First of May” and sex scene. The work was taken off
premiered in 1930 on the sixth stage immediately.

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