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The new life of of D. Shostakovitch's "Ten Poems"
10.03.2016
On June, 13, 2015, Minin's Choir finished recording of D. D. Shostakovich's "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets".
"These poems, perhaps, was my first experience in the field of music for unaccompanied choir, except for small choral scenes from film music. It was experience that I am going to continue in the future. I sincerely fascinated by work for choirs", - composer wrote.
Master's widow Irina Antonovna Shostakovich, who was present on the recording session, tell us about her impressions.
In the history of mankind there have been periods when the choral music becomes a means of ideological and political struggle. How relevant "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets" is now?
The topic, that Shostakovich raised, absolutely coincides with today. All authors were real fighters, members of the barricade battles, employees of the Party press. They sat in the tsar's prison, they were deported to exile. These people have chosen the path full of hardship and adversity, though they were gifted with creative - many of them clearly expressed themselves in art. Still, their poetry was a weapon of political struggle and means of life-affirmation - they believed in the victory of the people, even at the cost of their own lives. In these verses sound their decision to fight evil, a sincere desire to change the existing at the time the order of things ...
Revolution poets understand the nature of his poetry, born in exile, in prison. Soviet composers have little contact with their creativity. Shostakovich chose works that reflect the people's struggle and reveal the spiritual aspect of a revolutionary. The shape of the "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets" is a suite. This form of no coincidence that he chose as the choir can implement mass popular action and, at the same time, there are sounds lyrical voice fighter - participant in the events of those years. Later, these arrangements of revolutionary songs included in his 11th Symphony ("1905"), they are also used in his Eighth Quartet. I think that these poems help to recreate the moral character of a fighter for justice. I must say that the generation to which he belonged, Shostakovich, believe that their duty - to be useful to their homeland. Shostakovich often acted in defense of the weak and the persecuted people. At a time when anti-Semitism is flourishing in the country, he created a song cycle "From Jewish Folk Poetry". But then it was difficult to fulfill...
What about Shostakovich's archive and music publishing "DSCH" (musical monogram combining the first letters of the name and surname of the composer in the German writing, which sounds in many of his works as a kind of signature, a sign of personal presence. Pronounced as "De-Es-Ce -Ha "), whose main goal is to release the complete composer's works in 150 volumes. 70 volumes are published for this time. What are the immediate plans?
In 2015 we plan to publish music for the film "Hamlet", in 2016 - choral works, including two Shostakovich orchestrated chorus Davydenko: "At six miles from the capital," and "The Street is worried".
Irina Antonovna, in your opinion - which of the symphonies of Shostakovich could reflect events this day?
All of them. In his poems and choral symphonies of Shostakovich described the way of Russia, they meet the events that happened to pass through our country. To what extent Shostakovich's work - an encyclopedia of Russian life in the post-revolutionary period. And I am very grateful to Vladimir Nikolaevich Minin, who addressed these poems, as it meets the needs of today's society.
What impressions you got from the recording?
Minin's selection is not accidental, it conveys his understanding of today's life. I believe that the drive will be the benchmark for future artists creativity Shostakovich. Most recently, the Moscow Chamber Choir sang excerpts from "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets" in Kurgan and it caused great interest of the audience. It should be very appreciate what Vladimir Minin do. This is the foundation, which will turn the heads of choirmasters and choirs that come after him.
"These poems, perhaps, was my first experience in the field of music for unaccompanied choir, except for small choral scenes from film music. It was experience that I am going to continue in the future. I sincerely fascinated by work for choirs", - composer wrote.
Master's widow Irina Antonovna Shostakovich, who was present on the recording session, tell us about her impressions.
In the history of mankind there have been periods when the choral music becomes a means of ideological and political struggle. How relevant "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets" is now?
The topic, that Shostakovich raised, absolutely coincides with today. All authors were real fighters, members of the barricade battles, employees of the Party press. They sat in the tsar's prison, they were deported to exile. These people have chosen the path full of hardship and adversity, though they were gifted with creative - many of them clearly expressed themselves in art. Still, their poetry was a weapon of political struggle and means of life-affirmation - they believed in the victory of the people, even at the cost of their own lives. In these verses sound their decision to fight evil, a sincere desire to change the existing at the time the order of things ...
Revolution poets understand the nature of his poetry, born in exile, in prison. Soviet composers have little contact with their creativity. Shostakovich chose works that reflect the people's struggle and reveal the spiritual aspect of a revolutionary. The shape of the "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets" is a suite. This form of no coincidence that he chose as the choir can implement mass popular action and, at the same time, there are sounds lyrical voice fighter - participant in the events of those years. Later, these arrangements of revolutionary songs included in his 11th Symphony ("1905"), they are also used in his Eighth Quartet. I think that these poems help to recreate the moral character of a fighter for justice. I must say that the generation to which he belonged, Shostakovich, believe that their duty - to be useful to their homeland. Shostakovich often acted in defense of the weak and the persecuted people. At a time when anti-Semitism is flourishing in the country, he created a song cycle "From Jewish Folk Poetry". But then it was difficult to fulfill...
What about Shostakovich's archive and music publishing "DSCH" (musical monogram combining the first letters of the name and surname of the composer in the German writing, which sounds in many of his works as a kind of signature, a sign of personal presence. Pronounced as "De-Es-Ce -Ha "), whose main goal is to release the complete composer's works in 150 volumes. 70 volumes are published for this time. What are the immediate plans?
In 2015 we plan to publish music for the film "Hamlet", in 2016 - choral works, including two Shostakovich orchestrated chorus Davydenko: "At six miles from the capital," and "The Street is worried".
Irina Antonovna, in your opinion - which of the symphonies of Shostakovich could reflect events this day?
All of them. In his poems and choral symphonies of Shostakovich described the way of Russia, they meet the events that happened to pass through our country. To what extent Shostakovich's work - an encyclopedia of Russian life in the post-revolutionary period. And I am very grateful to Vladimir Nikolaevich Minin, who addressed these poems, as it meets the needs of today's society.
What impressions you got from the recording?
Minin's selection is not accidental, it conveys his understanding of today's life. I believe that the drive will be the benchmark for future artists creativity Shostakovich. Most recently, the Moscow Chamber Choir sang excerpts from "Ten choral poems on the words of revolutionary poets" in Kurgan and it caused great interest of the audience. It should be very appreciate what Vladimir Minin do. This is the foundation, which will turn the heads of choirmasters and choirs that come after him.