Seventh Symphony by D. Shostakovich. "Leningrad Symphony". Music as a weapon Shostakovich Symphony 7 Leningrad when it was written

Dmitry Shostakovich began writing the Seventh (Leningrad) Symphony in September 1941, when a blockade was closed around the city on the Neva. In those days, the composer submitted an application with a request to send him to the front. Instead, he received an order to prepare to be sent to the "mainland" and was soon sent with his family to Moscow, and then to Kuibyshev. There the composer finished work on the symphony on December 27.

The premiere of the symphony took place on March 5, 1942 in Kuibyshev. The success was so overwhelming that the very next day a copy of her score was flown to Moscow. The first performance in Moscow took place in the Column Hall of the House of Unions on March 29, 1942.

Major American conductors - Leopold Stokowski and Arturo Toscanini (New York Radio Symphony Orchestra - NBC), Sergei Koussevitsky (Boston Symphony Orchestra), Eugene Ormandy (Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra), Arthur Rodzinsky (Cleveland Symphony Orchestra) turned to the All-Liaison Society with Abroad (VOKS) with a request to urgently send by plane to the United States four copies of the scores of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony and a tape recording of the symphony in the Soviet Union. They announced that they would prepare the Seventh Symphony at the same time and that the first concerts would take place on the same day - an unprecedented event in US musical life. The same request came from England.

Dmitry Shostakovich wearing a fireman's helmet on the cover of Time magazine, 1942

The score of the symphony was sent to the United States by military aircraft, and the first performance of the "Leningrad" symphony in New York was broadcast on radio stations in the USA, Canada and Latin America. It was heard by about 20 million people.

But with special impatience they awaited "their" Seventh Symphony in besieged Leningrad. On July 2, 1942, a twenty-year-old pilot, Lieutenant Litvinov, under continuous fire from German anti-aircraft guns, breaking through a ring of fire, delivered medicines and four voluminous music books with the score of the Seventh Symphony to the besieged city. They were already awaited at the airport and taken away as the greatest treasure.

Karl Eliasberg

But when the chief conductor of the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Radio Committee, Karl Eliasberg, opened the first of the four notebooks of the score, he darkened: instead of the usual three trumpets, three trombones and four French horns, Shostakovich had twice as many. And the drums have been added! Moreover, the score is written by Shostakovich: "The participation of these instruments in the performance of the symphony is obligatory." And "necessarily" is underlined in bold. It became clear that the symphony could not be played with the few musicians who still remained in the orchestra. And they played their last concert back in December 1941.

After the hungry winter of 1941, only 15 people remained in the orchestra, and more than a hundred were required. From the story of Galina Lelyukhina, a flute player of the blockade line-up of the orchestra: “It was announced on the radio that all the musicians were invited. It was hard to walk. I had scurvy and my legs were very painful. At first there were nine of us, but then more came. The conductor Eliasberg was brought in on a sleigh, because he was completely weak from hunger. The men were even called from the front lines. Instead of weapons, they had to take musical instruments in their hands. The symphony required a lot of physical effort, especially the wind parts - a huge burden for the city, where it was already hard to breathe. " Eliasberg found drummer Zhaudat Aidarov in the dead, where he noticed that the musician's fingers moved slightly. “He’s alive!” Staggering with weakness, Karl Eliasberg went around hospitals in search of musicians. Musicians came from the front: the trombonist from the machine-gun company, the horn player from the anti-aircraft regiment ... The viola player escaped from the hospital, the flutist was brought on a sled - his legs were taken away. The trumpeter came in felt boots, despite the summer: his legs, swollen from hunger, did not fit into other shoes.

Clarinetist Viktor Kozlov recalled: “At the first rehearsal, some musicians could not physically go up to the second floor, they listened downstairs. They were so exhausted by hunger. Now it is impossible to even imagine such a degree of exhaustion. People could not sit, so they emaciated. I had to stand during rehearsals. "

On August 9, 1942, in besieged Leningrad, the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Karl Eliasberg (a German by nationality) performed the Seventh Symphony by Dmitry Shostakovich. The day of the first performance of the Seventh Symphony by Dmitry Shostakovich was not chosen by chance. On August 9, 1942, the Nazis intended to seize the city - they even had prepared invitations to a banquet in the restaurant of the Astoria Hotel.

On the day of the symphony's performance, all the artillery forces of Leningrad were sent to suppress enemy firing points. Despite the bombs and airstrikes, all the chandeliers in the Philharmonic were lit. The symphony was broadcast on the radio, as well as on the loudspeakers of the city network. It was heard not only by the residents of the city, but also by the German troops besieging Leningrad, who believed that the city was practically dead.

After the war, two former German soldiers who fought near Leningrad tracked down Eliasberg and confessed to him: "Then, on August 9, 1942, we realized that we would lose the war."

The path to the goal

The virtuoso was born on September 25, 1906 into a family where music was respected and loved. The parents' hobby was passed on to their son. At the age of 9, after watching the opera by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov "The Tale of Tsar Saltan", the boy announced that he intends to seriously study music. The first teacher was his mother, who taught to play the piano. Later, she sent the boy to a music school, the director of which was the famous teacher I.A.Glyasser.

Later, misunderstandings arose between the student and the teacher regarding the choice of direction. The mentor saw the guy as a pianist, the young man dreamed of becoming a composer. Therefore, in 1918, Dmitry left the school. Perhaps, if the talent remained to study there, the world today would not know such a work as Shostakovich's 7th Symphony. The history of the creation of the composition is a significant part of the musician's biography.

Melodist of the future

The following summer Dmitry went to audition at the Petrograd Conservatory. There he was noticed by the famous professor and composer A.K. Glazunov. History mentions that this man turned to Maxim Gorky with a request to help him with a scholarship for a young talent. When asked if he was good at music, the professor honestly answered that Shostakovich's style was alien and incomprehensible to him, but this is a topic for the future. So, in the fall, the guy entered the conservatory.

But only in 1941 was Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony written. The history of the creation of this work - ups and downs.

Universal love and hate

While still studying, Dmitry created significant melodies, but only after graduating from the conservatory did he write his First Symphony. The work became a diploma work. The newspapers called him a revolutionary in the world of music. Along with the fame, a lot of negative criticism fell on the young man. Nevertheless, Shostakovich did not stop working.

Despite his amazing talent, he was unlucky. Each work failed miserably. Many ill-wishers sharply condemned the composer even before Shostakovich's 7th symphony came out. The history of the creation of the composition is interesting - the virtuoso composed it already at the peak of its popularity. But before that, in 1936, the Pravda newspaper harshly condemned ballets and operas of the new format. Ironically, the unusual music from the performances, the author of which was Dmitry Dmitrievich, also fell under the hot hand.

The terrible muse of the Seventh Symphony

The composer was persecuted, his works were banned. The fourth symphony became a pain. For some time he slept dressed and with a suitcase near the bed - the musician was afraid of arrest at any moment.

Nevertheless, he did not pause. In 1937 he released the Fifth Symphony, which surpassed the previous compositions and rehabilitated him.

But another work opened the world of emotions and feelings in music. The story of the creation of Shostakovich's 7th symphony was tragic and dramatic.

In 1937 he taught composition at the Leningrad Conservatory, and later received the title of professor.

In this city he is caught by the Second World War. Dmitry Dmitrievich met her in the blockade (the city was surrounded on September 8), then he, like other artists of that time, was taken out of the cultural capital of Russia. The composer and his family were evacuated first to Moscow, and then, on October 1, to Kuibyshev (since 1991 - Samara).

Start of work

It is worth noting that the author began to work on this music even before the Great Patriotic War. In 1939-1940, the history of the creation of Shostakovich's symphony number 7 began. The first to hear her passages were students and colleagues. It was originally a simple theme that evolved with the thumping of a snare drum. Already in the summer of 1941, this part became a separate emotional episode of the work. The symphony officially kicked off on July 19. Later, the author admitted that he had never written so actively. It is interesting that the composer made an appeal to Leningraders on the radio, where he announced his creative plans.

In September he worked on the second and third parts. On December 27, the master wrote the final part. On March 5, 1942, Shostakovich's 7th symphony was performed for the first time in Kuibyshev. The story of the creation of the work in the blockade is no less exciting than the premiere itself. The evacuated Bolshoi Theater Orchestra played. Samuel Samosuda was conducting.

Main concert

The master's dream was to perform in Leningrad. Great efforts were spent to make the music sound. The task of organizing the concert fell to the only orchestra that remained in besieged Leningrad. The battered city was gathering musicians drop by drop. Everyone who could stand was accepted. Many front-line soldiers took part in the performance. Only musical notations were delivered to the city. Then the parties were painted and posters were posted. On August 9, 1942, Shostakovich's 7th symphony sounded. The history of the creation of the work is also unique in that it was on this day that the fascist troops planned to break through the defenses.

The conductor was Karl Eliasberg. The order was given: "While the concert is going on, the enemy must be silent." Soviet artillery provided peace of mind and virtually covered all the artists. They broadcast music on the radio.

It was a real treat for the exhausted residents. People were crying and standing ovation. In August, the symphony was played 6 times.

World recognition

Four months after the premiere, the work began to sound in Novosibirsk. In the summer it was heard by residents of Great Britain and the USA. The author has become popular. People from all over the world were fascinated by the blockade story of the creation of Shostakovich's 7th symphony. In the first few months, more than 60 times Her first broadcast was listened to by more than 20 million people on this continent.

There were also envious people who argued that the work would not have received such popularity if it were not for the drama of Leningrad. But, despite this, even the most daring critic did not dare to declare that the author's work is mediocrity.

There were also changes in the territory of the Soviet Union. Asa was called the Beethoven of the twentieth century. The man received The composer S. Rachmaninov spoke negatively about the genius, who said: "All the artists have been forgotten, only Shostakovich remained." Symphony 7 "Leningradskaya", the history of which is worthy of respect, won the hearts of millions.

Music of the Heart

Tragic events are heard in the music. The author wanted to show all the pain that leads not only the war, but He also loved his people, but despised the authorities that govern them. His goal was to convey the feelings of millions of Soviet people. The master suffered along with the city and the inhabitants and defended the walls with notes. Anger, love, suffering were embodied in such a work as Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony. The history of creation covers the period of the first months of the war and the start of the blockade.

The theme itself is a grandiose struggle between good and evil, peace and slavery. If you close your eyes and turn on the melody, you can hear how the sky is buzzing from enemy planes, how the native land groans from the dirty boots of the invaders, how a mother cries, who escorts her son to death.

The “Famous Leningradka” became the symbol of freedom, as the poet Anna Akhmatova called her. On one side of the wall there were enemies, injustice, on the other - art, Shostakovich, the 7th symphony. The history of creation briefly reflects the first stage of the war and the role of art in the struggle for freedom!

Symphony No. 7 "Leningradskaya"

Shostakovich's 15 symphonies constitute one of the greatest phenomena of the 20th century's musical literature. Several of them carry a specific "program" related to stories or war. The idea of ​​"Leningradskaya" arose from personal experience.

“Our victory over fascism, our coming victory over the enemy,
to my beloved city of Leningrad, I dedicate my seventh symphony "
(D. Shostakovich)

I speak for everyone who died here.
Their deaf steps are in my lines,
Their eternal and hot breath.
I speak for everyone who lives here
Who went through fire and death and ice.
I say, like your flesh, people,
By right of shared suffering ...
(Olga Berggolts)

In June 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union and soon Leningrad was in a blockade that lasted 18 months and entailed countless hardships and deaths. In addition to those killed in the bombing, more than 600,000 Soviet citizens died of hunger. Many have frozen or died due to a lack of medical care - the number of victims of the blockade is estimated at almost a million. In the besieged city, enduring terrible hardships along with thousands of other people, Shostakovich began work on his Symphony No. 7. He had never dedicated his major works to anyone before, but this symphony became an offering to Leningrad and its inhabitants. The composer was driven by love for his hometown and these truly heroic times of struggle.
Work on this symphony began at the very beginning of the war. From the first days of the war, Shostakovich, like many of his fellow countrymen, began to work for the needs of the front. He dug trenches, was on duty at night during air raids.

He made arrangements for concert crews going to the front. But, as always, this unique musician-publicist had already matured in his head a large symphonic plan dedicated to everything that was happening. He began writing the Seventh Symphony. The first part was completed in the summer. The second he wrote in September already in besieged Leningrad.

In October Shostakovich and his family were evacuated to Kuibyshev. Unlike the first three parts, which were created literally in one breath, the work on the finale was going badly. Unsurprisingly, the last part took a long time to come through. The composer understood that a solemn victorious finale would be expected from the symphony dedicated to the war. But so far there was no reason for this, and he wrote as his heart suggested.

On December 27, 1941, the symphony was completed. Beginning with the Fifth Symphony, almost all of the composer's works in this genre were performed by his favorite orchestra - the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by E. Mravinsky.

But, unfortunately, the Mravinsky orchestra was far away, in Novosibirsk, and the authorities insisted on an urgent premiere. After all, the symphony was dedicated by the author to the feat of his native city. Political significance was attached to it. The premiere took place in Kuibyshev with the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra conducted by S. Samosud. After that, the symphony was performed in Moscow and Novosibirsk. But the most remarkable premiere took place in besieged Leningrad. Musicians were gathered from everywhere to perform it. Many of them were emaciated. I had to put them in the hospital before the start of rehearsals - to feed them, to heal them. On the day of the symphony's performance, all artillery forces were sent to suppress enemy firing points. Nothing was supposed to interfere with this premiere.

The Philharmonic Hall was full. The audience was very diverse. The concert was attended by sailors, armed infantrymen, air defense fighters dressed in sweatshirts, emaciated regulars of the Philharmonic. The symphony was performed for 80 minutes. All this time, the enemy's guns were silent: the artillerymen defending the city received an order to suppress the fire of German guns at all costs.

Shostakovich's new work shocked the audience: many of them cried, not hiding their tears. Great music managed to express what united people at that difficult time: faith in victory, sacrifice, boundless love for their city and country.

During the performance, the symphony was broadcast on the radio, as well as on the loudspeakers of the city network. It was heard not only by the residents of the city, but also by the German troops besieging Leningrad.

On July 19, 1942, the symphony was performed in New York, and after that it began its triumphant march around the world.

The first movement begins with a broad, chanting epic melody. It develops, grows, and is filled with more and more power. Recalling the process of creating the symphony, Shostakovich said: "While working on the symphony, I thought about the greatness of our people, about its heroism, about the best ideals of mankind, about the wonderful qualities of man ..." intonations, bold wide melodic moves, heavy unison.

The side part is also song. It is like a calm lullaby song. Her melody seems to dissolve into silence. Everything breathes with the calmness of a peaceful life.

But from somewhere in the distance, a drum roll is heard, and then a melody appears: primitive, similar to verses - an expression of commonness and vulgarity. As if the puppets are moving. This is how the "invasion episode" begins - a stunning picture of an invasion of destructive force.

Sounds harmless at first. But the theme is repeated 11 times, increasing more and more. Its melody does not change, it only gradually acquires the sound of more and more new instruments, turning into powerful chord complexes. So this topic, which at first seemed not threatening, but stupid and vulgar, turns into a colossal monster - a grinding machine of destruction. It seems that she will grind into powder all living things in her path.

The writer A. Tolstoy called this music "the dance of the learned rats to the tune of the rat-catcher." It seems that the learned rats, obedient to the will of the rat-catcher, enter the battle.

The invasion episode is written in the form of variations on the unchanging theme - passacalia.

Even before the start of World War II, Shostakovich wrote variations on an unchanging theme, similar in design to Ravel's Bolero. He showed it to his students. The theme is simple, as if dancing, which is accompanied by the beat of a snare drum. It grew to enormous power. At first it sounded harmless, even frivolous, but it grew into a terrible symbol of suppression. The composer postponed this work without performing or publishing it. It turns out that this episode was written earlier. So what did the composer want to portray for them? A terrible march of fascism across Europe or an offensive of totalitarianism on a person? (Note: A totalitarian regime is called a regime in which the state dominates all aspects of the life of society, in which there is violence, the destruction of democratic freedoms and human rights).

At that moment, when it seems that the iron colossus is moving with a crash right at the listener, the unexpected happens. Resistance begins. A dramatic motive appears, which is usually called the motive of resistance. Moans and screams are heard in the music. It's like a grandiose symphonic battle is being played.

After a powerful climax, the reprise sounds gloomy and gloomy. The theme of the main party in it sounds like a passionate speech addressed to all mankind, full of the great power of protest against evil. Especially expressive is the melody of the side part, which has become dreary and lonely. An expressive bassoon solo appears here.

It is no longer a lullaby, but rather a cry interrupted by excruciating spasms. Only in the code, the main part sounds in major, as if affirming the overcoming of the forces of evil. But a drumbeat is heard from afar. The war is still going on.

The next two parts are designed to show the spiritual wealth of a person, the strength of his will.

The second movement is a scherzo in soft colors. Many critics in this music saw the picture of Leningrad as transparent white nights. This music combines smile and sadness, light humor and self-depth, creating an attractive and light image.

The third movement is a stately and soulful adagio. It opens with a chorale - a kind of requiem for the dead. This is followed by the violins' pathetic utterance. The second theme, according to the composer, conveys "the ecstasy of life, admiration for nature." The dramatic middle of the part is perceived as a memory of the past, a reaction to the tragic events of the first part.

The finale begins with a barely audible timpani tremolo. As if forces are gradually gathering. This prepares the main theme, full of indomitable energy. This is an image of struggle, of popular anger. It is replaced by an episode in the rhythm of sarabanda - again the memory of the fallen. And then begins a slow ascent to the triumph of the completion of the symphony, where the main theme of the first movement sounds at the trumpets and trombones as a symbol of peace and future victory.

No matter how wide the diversity of genres in Shostakovich's work, in terms of his talent, he is, first of all, a composer-symphonist. His work is characterized by a huge scale of content, a tendency to generalized thinking, the severity of conflicts, dynamism and strict logic of development. These features were especially vividly manifested in his symphonies. Fifteen symphonies belong to Shostakovich. Each of them is a page in the history of the life of the people. It was not for nothing that the composer was called the musical chronicler of his era. And not an impassive observer, as if observing everything that happens from above, but a person who subtly reacts to the shocks of his era, living the life of his contemporaries, involved in everything that happens around. He could have said about himself in the words of the great Goethe:

- I'm not an outsider spectator,
And a participant in earthly affairs!

Like no one else, he was distinguished by his responsiveness to everything that was happening with his native country and its people, and even more broadly - with all of humanity. Thanks to this sensitivity, he was able to capture the characteristic features of that era and reproduce them in highly artistic images. And in this respect, the composer's symphonies are a unique monument to the history of mankind.

August 9, 1942. On this day, in besieged Leningrad, the famous performance of the Seventh ("Leningrad") Symphony by Dmitry Shostakovich took place.

The organizer and conductor was Karl Ilyich Eliasberg, the chief conductor of the Leningrad Radio Orchestra. While the symphony was being performed, not a single enemy shell fell on the city: by order of the commander of the Leningrad Front, Marshal Govorov, all enemy points were suppressed in advance. The cannons were silent while Shostakovich's music sounded. It was heard not only by the residents of the city, but also by the German troops besieging Leningrad. Many years after the war, the Germans said: “Then, on August 9, 1942, we realized that we would lose the war. We felt your strength to overcome hunger, fear and even death ... "

Beginning with the performance in besieged Leningrad, the symphony had tremendous agitation and political significance for the Soviet and Russian authorities.

On August 21, 2008, a fragment of the first movement of the symphony was performed in the South Ossetian city of Tskhinvali, destroyed by Georgian troops, by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev.

"This symphony is a reminder to the world that the horror of the blockade and bombing of Leningrad must not be repeated ..."
(V.A.Gergiev)

Presentation

Included:
1. Presentation of 18 slides, ppsx;
2. Sounds of music:
Symphony No. 7 "Leningradskaya", Op. 60, 1 part, mp3;
3. Article, docx.

D.D. Shostakovich "Leningrad Symphony"

Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony (Leningrad) is a great work that reflects not only the will to victory, but also the irresistible strength of the spirit of the Russian people. The music is a chronicle of the war years, in every sound a trace of history is heard. The composition, grandiose in scale, gave hope and faith not only to people in besieged Leningrad, but also to the entire Soviet people.

You can find out how the work was composed and under what circumstances it was first performed, as well as the content and many interesting facts, on our page.

The history of the creation of the "Leningrad Symphony"

Dmitry Shostakovich has always been a very sensitive person; he seemed to have anticipated the beginning of a complex historical event. So back in 1935, the composer began to compose variations in the Passacaglia genre. It should be noted that this genre is a mourning procession common in Spain. By design, the composition was supposed to repeat the principle of variation used by Maurice Ravel v " Bolero". The sketches were even shown to students of the conservatory, where the brilliant musician taught. The Passacaglia theme was simple enough, but its development was based on dry drumming. Gradually, the dynamics grew to enormous power, which demonstrated the symbol of fear and horror. The composer was tired of working on the piece and put it aside.

The war awakened in Shostakovich the desire to complete the work and bring it to a triumphant and victorious finale. The composer decided to use the previously started Passacala in the symphony, it became a big episode, which was based on variations, and replaced the development. In the summer of 1941, the first part was completely ready. Then the composer began work on the middle parts, which were completed by the composer even before the evacuation from Leningrad.

The author recalled his own work on the work: “I wrote it faster than previous works. I could not do otherwise, and not write it. A terrible war was going on around. I just wanted to capture the image of our country fighting so desperately in its own music. On the first day of the war, I had already set to work. Then I lived at the conservatory, like many of my acquaintances musicians. I was an air defense fighter. I didn’t sleep, and didn’t eat, and I was distracted from the composition only when I was on duty or when there were air raids ”.

The fourth part was given the most difficult, since it was supposed to be a triumph of good over evil. The composer felt anxiety, the war had a very serious impact on his morale. His mother and sister were not evacuated from the city, and Shostakovich was very worried about them. Pain tormented his soul, he could not think of anything. There was no one nearby who could inspire him to the heroic finale of the work, but, nevertheless, the composer pulled himself together and completed the work in the most optimistic spirit. A few days before the onset of 1942, the work was completely composed.

Symphony No. 7 performance

The work was first performed in Kuibyshev in the spring of 1942. The premiere was conducted by Samuil Samosud. It is noteworthy that reporters from different countries came to the performance in a small town. The audience's assessment was more than high, several countries at once wanted to perform the symphony in the most famous philharmonic societies in the world, requests began to be sent to send the score. The right to be the first to perform the work outside the country was entrusted to the famous conductor Toscanini. In the summer of 1942, the work was performed in New York and was a huge success. Music spread all over the world.

But not a single performance on Western stages could compare with the scale of the premiere in besieged Leningrad. On August 9, 1942, the day when, according to Hitler's plan, the city was to fall from the blockade, Shostakovich's music sounded. All four movements were played by conductor Karl Eliasberg. The work sounded in every home, on the streets, as the broadcast was carried out on the radio and through street loudspeakers. The Germans were amazed - it was a real feat, showing the strength of the Soviet people.

Interesting facts about Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7

• The name "Leningradskaya" was given to the work by the famous poetess Anna Akhmatova.
• Since its inception, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 has become one of the most politicized works in the history of classical music. So, the date of the premiere of the symphonic work in Leningrad was not chosen by chance. The complete massacre of the city, built by Peter the Great, was scheduled for the ninth of August according to the plan of the Germans. The commander-in-chief was handed out special invitations to the Astoria restaurant, which was popular at that time. They wanted to celebrate the victory over the besieged in the city. Tickets for the premiere of the symphony were handed out to the blockade people free of charge. The Germans knew about everything and became involuntary listeners of the work. On the day of the premiere, it became clear who would win the battle for the city.
• On the day of the premiere, the whole city was filled with the music of Shostakovich. The symphony was broadcast on radio and also from city street loudspeakers. People listened and could not hide their own emotions. Many were overwhelmed with pride in their country.
• The music of the first part of the symphony became the basis of the ballet entitled "The Leningrad Symphony".

• The famous writer Alexei Tolstoy wrote an article about the "Leningrad" symphony, in which he not only designated the composition as the triumph of the thought of the human in man, but also analyzed the work from a musical point of view.
• Most of the musicians were taken out of the city at the beginning of the blockade, so it became difficult to assemble a whole orchestra. But nevertheless, it was assembled, and the work was learned in just a few weeks. The famous conductor of German origin Eliasberg conducted the Leningrad premiere. Thus, it was emphasized that, regardless of nationality, each person strives for peace.

• The symphony can be heard in the famous computer game called "Entente".
• In 2015, the work was performed at the Donetsk Philharmonic. The premiere took place as part of a special project.
• Poet and friend Alexander Petrovich Mezhirov dedicated poems to this work.
• One of the Germans, after the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany, admitted: “It was on the day of the premiere of the Leningrad Symphony that we realized that we would lose not only the battle, but the entire war. Then we felt the strength of the Russian people, which could overcome everything, both hunger and death.
• Shostakovich himself wanted the symphony in Leningrad to be performed by his favorite Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, which was directed by the brilliant Mravinsky. But this could not happen, since the orchestra was in Novosibirsk, the transfer of musicians would become too difficult and could lead to tragedy, since the city was in a blockade, so the orchestra had to be formed from people who were in the city. Many were musicians of military bands, many were invited from neighboring cities, but in the end the orchestra was assembled and performed the work.
• During the performance of the symphony, the secret operation "Flurry" was successfully carried out. Later, a participant in this operation will write a poem dedicated to Shostakovich and the operation itself.
• A review of a journalist from the English magazine "Time", who was specially sent to the USSR for the premiere in Kuibyshev, has survived. The correspondent then wrote that the work was filled with extraordinary nervousness, he noted the brightness and expressiveness of the melodies. In his opinion, the symphony must have been performed in Great Britain and around the world.

• Music is associated with another military event that has already happened today. On August 21, 2008 the work was performed in Tskhinval. The symphony was conducted by one of the best conductors of our time, Valery Gergiev. The performance was broadcast on the leading channels of Russia, the broadcast was also carried out on radio stations.
• On the building of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, you can see a memorial plaque dedicated to the premiere of the symphony.
• After signing the surrender in a news outlet in Europe, the reporter said: “Is it possible to defeat a country in which, during such terrible hostilities, blockades and death, destruction and famine, people manage to write such a powerful work and perform it in a besieged city? I think not. This is a unique feat. "

The Seventh Symphony is one of the works written on a historical basis. The Great Patriotic War awakened in Shostakovich a desire to create an essay that would help a person to gain faith in victory and the acquisition of a peaceful life. The heroic content, the triumph of justice, the struggle between light and darkness - this is what is reflected in the composition.

The symphony has a classic 4-part structure. Each part has its own role in terms of the development of drama:

• Part I written in sonata form without elaboration. The role of the part is an exposition of two polar worlds, namely, the main part is a world of tranquility, greatness, built on Russian intonations, the side part complements the main part, but at the same time changes its character, and resembles a lullaby. The new musical material, called "Invasion Episode", is a world of war, anger and death. A primitive melody accompanied by percussion instruments is performed 11 times. The climax reflects the struggle of the main party and the "invasion episode". From the code it becomes clear that the main party won.
• Part II is a scherzo. The music contains images of Leningrad in peacetime with notes of regret for the former peace.
• Part III is an adagio written in the genre of a requiem for dead people. The war took them away forever, the music is tragic and sad.
• The final continues the struggle between light and darkness, the main party gains energy and wins the "invasion episode". The Sarabande theme celebrates all those who died fighting for peace, and then the main party is established. Music sounds like a real symbol of a brighter future.

The key in C major was not chosen by chance. The fact is that this tonality is a symbol of a blank slate on which history is written, and only a person decides where it will turn. Also, C major provides many possibilities for further modulations, both in flat and sharp directions.

Using the music of Symphony No. 7 in motion pictures

Today, the "Leningrad Symphony" is rarely used in cinematography, but this fact does not diminish the historical significance of the work. Below are films and TV series in which you can hear fragments of the most famous composition of the twentieth century:

• 1871 (1990);
• "A field novel" (1983);
• "Leningrad Symphony" (1958).

On September 25, 1906, Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich was born, who was destined to become one of the most performed composers in the world. Later he will say: “Love and study the great art of music: it will open to you a whole world of high feelings, passions, thoughts. It will make you spiritually richer, cleaner, more perfect. Thanks to music, you will find in yourself new, previously unknown powers. You will see life in new colors and colors ”.

On the birthday of the great composer of the 20th century, we invite you to discover the world of passions through the art of his music. One of the most important works Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich- “Seventh Symphony, Op. 60 "Leningradskaya" in C major ".

What music was!

What music was playing

When both soul and body

The damned war has trampled on.

What music is in everything

For everyone and for everyone - not by rank.

We will overcome ... We will withstand ... We will save ...

Oh, no time for fat - I would live ...

It has always been interpreted as a work depicting the horrors of war, fascism and the resilience of the Soviet people. However, Shostakovich began writing the symphony long before the start of the Great Patriotic War. The famous theme of the first movement of the symphony was written by Shostakovich before the start of World War II - in the late 1930s or 1940. Someone thinks that these were variations on a constant theme in the form of a passacaglia, similar in concept to Maurice Ravel's Bolero. There is an assumption that the "theme of the invasion" is built on one of Stalin's favorite melodies - lezginka, according to another - the Seventh Symphony was originally conceived by the composer as a symphony about Lenin, and only the war prevented its writing.

The composer himself wrote: “While composing the theme of the invasion, I thought about a completely different enemy of humanity. Of course, I hated fascism. But not only German - he hated all fascism. "

In September 1941, in the already besieged Leningrad (the blockade began on September 8), Shostakovich wrote the second part and began work on the third. He wrote the first three parts of the symphony in Benois's house on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt. On October 1, the composer and his family were taken out of Leningrad; after a short stay in Moscow, he went to Kuibyshev, where the symphony was completed on December 27, 1941.

The premiere of the work took place on March 5, 1942 at the Kuibyshev Opera and Ballet Theater by the orchestra of the USSR State Academic Bolshoi Theater under the direction of the conductor Samuel Samosud.

The foreign premiere of the Seventh Symphony took place on July 19, 1942 in New York - it was performed by the New York Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

On August 9, 1942, the Seventh Symphony was performed in besieged Leningrad; orchestra of the Leningrad Radio Committee conducted Karl Eliasberg.

For 900 days and nights, the city withstood the siege of fascist troops. During the days of the siege, some of the musicians starved to death. In May, a plane delivered the score of the symphony to the besieged city. To replenish the number of the orchestra, the musicians had to be recalled from the military units. Execution was given exceptional importance; on the day of the first execution, all the artillery forces of Leningrad were sent to suppress enemy firing points. Despite the bombs and airstrikes, all the chandeliers in the Philharmonic were lit. During the performance, the symphony was broadcast on the radio, as well as on the loudspeakers of the city network. It was heard not only by the residents of the city, but also by the German troops besieging Leningrad. Much later, two tourists from the GDR, who had tracked down Eliasberg, confessed to him:

“Then, on August 9, 1942, we realized that we would lose the war. We have felt your strength capable of overcoming hunger, fear and even death "...

Shostakovich's new work had a strong aesthetic impact on many listeners, making them cry without hiding their tears. The unifying principle is reflected in the great music: faith in victory, sacrifice, boundless love for one's city and country.

The soldiers are dizzy

Three-row under the roll of logs

Was more needed for a dugout

Than Beethoven for Germany.

And across the country a string

Stretched trembling

When the damn war

And trampled souls and bodies.

We moaned furiously, sobbing,

One passion for the sake of

At the station - disabled

And Shostakovich is in Leningrad.

Alexander Mezhirov