The Music of Dimitri Shostakovich

I once spent 3 awkward months sharing a college dorm room with a quiet, unassuming student from Japan who couldn't speak a word of English.  He was a gifted clarinetist, who had gained admission to Oberlin's prestigious Conservatory of Music and had somehow, through the absurdity of fate found himself housed with me, a quirky Bengali-American insomniac equally out of place in small town Ohio. We were beyond an odd couple. Even now, in retrospect, I realize I can't even remember his name, and considering that I strive to learn from and appreciate everyone who crosses my path, that's a quite a testament to the language barrier between us. Or maybe it's an indictment of how self-involved I was at age 19. In any case, I only have a few token memories of my old roommate, one of which is watching him spend night after night hunched over his desk, meticulously whittling clarinet reeds into the wee hours of the mornings, a tribute to his instrumental prowess and fanatical dedication to his instrument. He spent a few short months in my room before departing from my legendary hippie dorm and finding a safer, more appropriate place for him on campus. But before he left he did happen to introduce me to the music of Shostakovich, which was the kind of providential  encounter that left a mark that's lasted almost 20 years. I'm not a classical musician, by any means, but anyone with an ear for composition can recognize the genius of one of the Soviet Union's most gifted musical talents...

Read a little about Dmitri Shostakovich. His life and work were completely and utterly shaped by the times he lived in. Once a darling of the Soviet state, he fell from favor under Stalin, and saw his fortunes change dramatically as a consequence. He wrote a symphony under siege in Leningrad during WWII, which was performed by underfed, starving musicians as a tribute to Soviet fortitude under duress. He led an astonishing life, a movie-worthy journey filled with a litany of personal and political challenges that most people today can't even fathom, and he ultimately left behind a profound body of work that shaped the soundtrack of the 20th century for the Soviet Union. He is one of countless artists whose life and work help constitute the rich cultural heritage of 21st century Russia. Have a listen to the cello concerto above, played by Mstislav Rostropovich, another legendary musician. Again, I am by no means a classical musician. But I can appreciate virtuosity, even in forms and styles I don't engage with much. This is a phenomenal performance of an impressive piece of music. I look at Shostakovich and I marvel at what the people have endured in the last 100 years. To live and prosper and create stunning beauty under a totalitarian regime is a testament to the human spirit, and also a spectacle worth considering as we step forward into the brave new world of the future.