Symphony for the city of the dead dmitri shostakovich and. And yet, in some ways the symphony is only a hook to tell the story of the rise of stalin and more specifically, the devastating siege of leningrad. Symphony for the city of the dead is an intense historical account that is highly recommended reading for anyone studying world war ii or readers with an interest in history or music. Symphony for the city of the dead by m t anderson paperback. Part one deals with the situation in russiaussr before wwii and the early life of shostakovich. It portrays the life of a city, mainly through visual impressions in a semi documentary style, without the narrative content of more mainstream films, though the sequencing of events can imply a kind of loose theme or impression of the citys daily life. Symphony for the city of the dead is a book that should be read by all.
Symphony for the city of the dead is a wellresearched history and political analysis of the soviet governments impact on the arts centered around dmitri shostakovich and his work, particularly his masterful seventh symphony the leningrad symphony. But more than that, he tells the life story of dmitri shostakovich and the story of st. This ambitious and gripping work is narrative nonfiction at its best. Andersons narrative is strengthened by his thorough research and heap of primary sources.
The paperback of the symphony for the city of the dead. The symphony evolved during the late classical period. However, cities are changing but city symphony film genre still surfaces in various forms in the films of the following generation. The city is given a life of its own, with people often portrayed in groups rather than as individuals, where they function more as a backdrop to the city which is the real focal point. M t anderson in september 1941, adolf hitlers wehrmacht surrounded leningrad in what was to become one of the longest and most destructive sieges in western history almost three years of bombardment and. Extensively researched and passionately told, symphony for the city of the dead exposes the strengths and weaknesses of humanity through an engrossing tale of war, art and undying creativity. The city of leningrad was under siege for over a year while bombed and blockaded by the germans. During world war ii, the russian city of leningrad, formerly known as st.
Andersons many sources leave no gaps in the story, yet every book, diary, and quote is treated with extreme caution in soviet russia, anything. Anderson posted on 01192018 by rhapsodyinbooks to say that a soundtrack would be useful or, indeed, desirable, while reading this history is an understatement, because of the centrality of. Sep 23, 2015 symphony for the city of the dead is a book that should be read by all. Anderson posted on 01192018 by rhapsodyinbooks to say that a soundtrack would be useful or, indeed, desirable, while reading this history is an understatement, because of the centrality of dmitri shostakovichs seventh symphony to the story. This is the true story of a city under siege, the triumph of bravery and defiance in the face of terrifying odds.
Shelf awareness symphony for the city of the dead is an intense historical account that is highly recommended reading for anyone studying world war ii or readers with an interest in history or music. Symphony for the city of the dead summary supersummary. The microfilm contains the score for dmitri shostakovich s leningrad symphony, much of which he wrote during air raids in his native city. Though the book is targeted at young adult readers, it tells the exceedingly grim story of the threeyear siege of leningrad during world war ii, and how leningrad resident dmitri shostakovich channeled all that suffering into a symphony that helped rally the soviet troops. Shostakovichs 7th symphony the leningrad was played all. The story behind one of dmitri shostakovichs greatest symphonies, composed as the assault on leningrad unfolded. Survivors recall corpses littering the frozen streets, their relatives having neither the means nor. Symphony for the city of the dead by mt anderson is the kind of book i wish id written. It is also a look at the power and layered meaning of music in beleaguered lives. In september 1941, adolf hitlers wehrmacht surrounded leningrad in what was to become one of the longest and most destructive sieges in western historyalmost three years of bombardment and starvation that culminated in the harsh winter of 19431944. Books similar to symphony for the city of the dead. The term symphony derives from the greek words syn together and phone sounding, and became common during the middle ages and renaissance in its latinized form, symphonia, as a speculative expression connoting musical harmony or consonance.
Download pdf symphony for the city of the dead free online. If this were representative of the ya genre in general, i would have hope. Sep 02, 2016 symphony for the city of the dead is a fascinating work of nonfiction, because despite its genres reputation for academia and detachment, it is a deeply emotional and riveting narrative. Russia from the 1917 revolution through the rise of stalin and the second world war. Walter ruttmans, berlin or may utilize russian montage theory see. Due to the uncertainty of covid19, shipping is suspended and we plan to resume at the beginning of june. A lovely, lively historical survey that takes in neanderthals, hohenzollerns and just about everything in between. This article was originally published in the october 2015 issue of bookpage. In 1935, viennese publisher walter neurath approached gombrich, who would go on to write the canonical, bestselling story of art, to translate a history textbook for young readers.
The epic tale of the siege of leningrad and its native son, composer dmitri shostakovich, whose seventh symphony comforted, consoled, and rallied a. A young college student arrives in a sleepy massachusetts town to. It portrays the life of a city, mainly through visual impressions in a semi documentary style, without the narrative content of more mainstream films, though the sequencing of events can imply a kind of loose theme or impression of the city s daily life. A citysymphony film, as the name suggests, is most often based around a major metropolitan city area and seeks to capture the life, events and activities of the city. City symphony movies were made in the 1920s and 30s as an experimental genre and they translated the pulse of the city into the visual language of cinema. Jul 21, 2015 symphony for the city of the dead is a masterwork thrillingly told and impeccably researched by national book awardwinning author m. Dmitri shostakovich and the siege of leningrad by m.
Dmitri shostakovich and the siege of leningrad from the worlds largest community of readers. Symphony the symphony is perhaps the preeminent genre of orchestral music, a status it has held since at least the mid18th century. Book connections symphony for the city of the dead. Symphony for the city of the dead teaching guide teachervision. Symphony for the city of the dead covered a lot of ground. Oct 02, 2015 using the life and work of the composer dimitri shostakovich as a hook, and specifically his masterful seventh symphony the leningrad, symphony for the city of the dead explores one of the most horrific places and times to live in human history. The city symphony attempts to paint poetic images of a city, using techniques like rhythmic editing and abstract geometrical patterns. A city symphony film, as the name suggests, is most often based around a major metropolitan city area and seeks to capture the life, events and activities of the city.
Gombrich volunteered that he could do better than the authors, and neurath accepted the challenge. Dead symphony short excerpt by saskia moore published on 20141204t06. The film is an example of the city symphony film genre. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of symphony for the city of the dead by m. I highly recommend symphony for the city of the dead, if it sounds interesting to you. Symphony for the city of the dead is a masterwork thrillingly told and impeccably researched by national book awardwinning author m.
Symphony for the city of the dead is a fascinating work of nonfiction, because despite its genres reputation for academia and detachment, it is a deeply emotional and riveting narrative. Symphony for the city of the dead is a historical nonfiction book published in 2015 by the american author m. It seizes and educates you with an engrossing and rarely mentioned story of humanitys strength in the darkest of times. It was part biography, part political history, part musical critique, and part ethics, with the leningrad symphony functioning as the climax. It is also a look at the powerand layered meaningof music in beleaguered lives. Petersburg, was bombed and held under siege by nazi forces for almost three years, unable to obtain fresh food or other necessities for survival. Sep 22, 2015 the epic tale of the siege of leningrad and its native son, composer dmitri shostakovich, whose seventh symphony comforted, consoled, and rallied a population subjected to years of unspeakable suffering. Edwards award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. Andersons symphony for the city of the dead the new york. Petersburg, the city of his birth, later called leningrad. Apr 12, 2014 city symphony movies were made in the 1920s and 30s as an experimental genre and they translated the pulse of the city into the visual language of cinema. Using the life and work of the composer dimitri shostakovich as a hook, and specifically his masterful seventh symphony the leningrad, symphony for the city of the dead explores one of the most horrific places and times to live in human history. In symphony for the city of the dead, his first nonfiction work for teenagers, he takes on one of the grimmest chapters in.